WO2015125431A1 - Blower unit for air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

　This blower unit for an air conditioning apparatus is provided with: an electric motor (13); a fan (12) rotated by being driven by the electric motor (13), the fan (12) sucking in air and blowing out the air; circular grooved portions (12b, 12c) provided to the fan (12) and centered on the rotation axis; induction heating coils (21, 22) arranged in a contactless arrangement with respect to the grooved portions (12b, 12c) within the grooved portions (12b, 12c); and AC supply circuits (23, 24) for supplying AC current of prescribed frequency. When the induction heating coils (21, 22) are supplied with AC current of prescribed frequency, the fan (12) emits heat due to induction heating, heating the air sucked in. With the aforedescribed configuration, a large amount of power can be supplied to the fan from the induction heating coils. In so doing, a large amount of Joule heat can be generated by the fan, and the fan can be efficiently heated.

Description

Blower unit for air conditioner Cross-reference of related applications

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-031515 filed on February 21, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

This disclosure relates to a blower unit for an air conditioner applied to an air conditioner.

In the heat pump air conditioner, for the purpose of shortening the time from the start of the heating operation to the supply of warm air, high-frequency alternating current is supplied to the induction heating coil to electromagnetically heat the conductive fan. It has been proposed to warm the conditioned air with a fan heated by electromagnetic induction (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-203699 A

However, according to studies by the inventors of the present disclosure, in the device of Patent Document 1, the area of the fan (the area to be heated) facing the induction heating coil is small, and the fan and the induction are used to secure a ventilation path. A certain distance is provided between the heating coil. As a result, the amount of power supplied to the fan may be reduced.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a blower unit for an air conditioner that can efficiently supply power energy to a fan.

A blower unit for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an electric motor, a fan that is rotationally driven by the electric motor and sucks and blows out air, a circular groove portion that is provided in the fan and has a rotation axis as a center, and a groove portion An induction heating coil disposed in a non-contact manner with the groove, and an AC supply circuit that supplies an AC current of a predetermined frequency to the induction heating coil. When an alternating current having a predetermined frequency is supplied to the induction heating coil, the fan generates heat by induction heating and heats the sucked air.

According to the present disclosure, since the induction heating coil is disposed inside the groove provided in the fan, the area of the fan facing the induction heating coil can be increased. For this reason, the to-be-heated area of the fan heated by induction heating by the magnetic field generated around the induction heating coil can be increased. Further, by disposing the induction heating coil inside the groove provided in the fan, the distance between the heated portion of the fan and the induction heating coil can be made as small as possible.

Thus, by disposing the induction heating coil inside the groove provided in the fan, the amount of power supplied from the induction heating coil to the fan can be increased. Thereby, the Joule heat generated in the fan can be increased, and the fan can be efficiently heated.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the ventilation unit of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. It is a bottom view of a centrifugal fan. It is a figure which shows the equivalent circuit of a power transmission circuit. It is a figure which shows the structure of the ventilation unit of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the equivalent circuit of the power transmission circuit of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the magnetic field distribution whose magnetic field direction of an induction heating coil is the same direction. It is a figure which shows the magnetic field distribution whose magnetic field direction of an induction heating coil is a reverse direction. It is a figure which shows the structure of the ventilation unit of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the equivalent circuit of the power transmission circuit of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the ventilation unit of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the power transmission / reception system of 5th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the modification of a ventilation unit. It is a figure which shows the structure of the modification of a ventilation unit. It is a figure which shows the equivalent circuit of the power transmission circuit of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, parts that are the same or equivalent to each other are given the same reference numerals in the drawings in order to simplify the description. Further, the embodiments described below include a precondition of the present disclosure and a reference form.
(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, a blower unit for an air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as a blower unit 10) according to the first embodiment includes a scroll casing 11, a centrifugal fan 12, an electric motor 13, a motor drive circuit 14, an induction heating coil ( First induction heating coils) 21 and 22, a power supply circuit 23, and a resonance circuit 24 are provided. The blower unit 10 is used in, for example, a vehicle air conditioner.

The scroll casing 11 forms an air passage that guides air sucked from the air inlet to the air outlet. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the air inlet is located on the upper side of the scroll casing 11, and the air outlet is located on the right side of the scroll casing 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, a centrifugal fan 12 that sends out air is provided inside the scroll casing 11. As the centrifugal fan 12, a turbo fan or a sirocco fan can be used. The centrifugal fan 12 of this embodiment is made of iron (S45C) having a high relative permeability. The centrifugal fan 12 includes a plurality of blades 12a.

The centrifugal fan 12 is provided with an electric motor 13 for rotating the centrifugal fan 12, and the rotating shaft of the electric motor 13 is connected to the centrifugal fan 12. Further, the scroll casing 11 is provided with a motor drive circuit 14 for driving the electric motor 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of groove portions 12 b and 12 c having a predetermined depth are formed on the bottom surface of the centrifugal fan 12. In other words, the bottom surface of the centrifugal fan 12 is a surface opposite to the air inlet of the centrifugal fan 12 and is a surface located on the lower side in FIG. The groove portions 12 b and 12 c have a circular shape around the rotation axis of the centrifugal fan 12. In the present embodiment, two groove portions 12b and 12c having different sizes are provided. These groove portions 12b and 12c are located concentrically around the rotation axis.

Inductive heating coils 21 and 22 are arranged inside the grooves 12b and 12c provided in the centrifugal fan 12. The induction heating coils 21 and 22 are opposed to the inner wall surfaces of the grooves 12b and 12c. A predetermined interval is provided between the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12 and the induction heating coils 21 and 22, and the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12 and the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are not in contact with each other. ing.

The induction heating coils 21 and 22 are configured in a circular shape having a size corresponding to the grooves 12b and 12c, respectively. In the present embodiment, the induction heating coil 21 provided in the outer first groove 12b has a diameter of 10 cm, and the induction heating coil 22 provided in the inner second groove 12c has a diameter of 8 cm.

Further, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are laminated and wound in the axial direction of the centrifugal fan 12 and are configured as cylindrical coils. The induction heating coils 21 and 22 of this embodiment have 10 turns.

The induction heating coils 21 and 22 are fixed to the scroll casing 11 side. The centrifugal fan 12 can rotate without contacting the induction heating coils 21 and 22 in a state where the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are disposed in the grooves 12b and 12c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 together with the power supply circuit 23 and the resonance circuit 24 constitute a power transmission circuit 20. In the present embodiment, the induction heating coil 21 and the induction heating coil 22 are connected in series.

The power supply circuit 23 is configured as an AC signal generation source. The resonance circuit 24 is adjusted so as to perform magnetic field resonance in a state where the induction heating coils 21 and 22 and the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12 are fitted together. In the present embodiment, an alternating current having a predetermined frequency (25 kHz in the present embodiment) flows through the induction heating coils 21 and 22. In the present embodiment, the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 form a magnetic flux in the same direction.

The centrifugal fan 12 is heated by induction heating when a magnetic field is generated by the induction heating coils 21 and 22. As the distance between the induction heating coils 21 and 22 and the centrifugal fan 12 is shorter, the efficiency of the induction heating becomes higher. For this reason, it is desirable to arrange the induction heating coils 21 and 22 and the centrifugal fan 12 as close as possible. In the present embodiment, the distance between the induction heating coils 21 and 22 and the centrifugal fan 12 is 3 mm in the axial direction of the centrifugal fan 12 and 2 mm in the radial direction of the centrifugal fan 12.

Next, the operation of the blower unit 10 of this embodiment will be described. First, in the power transmission circuit 20, a magnetic field is generated around the induction heating coils 21 and 22 by an AC signal generated from a power supply circuit 23 as a frequency generation source. Along with this, an induced current is excited at a portion facing the induction heating coils 21 and 22 of the centrifugal fan 12 to generate an eddy current, and the centrifugal fan 12 is heated by Joule heat. As a result, the centrifugal fan 12 is heated in a non-contact manner by induction heating by the electric power transmitted from the induction heating coils 21 and 22.

When the electric motor 13 rotates, the centrifugal fan 12 rotates, and air is sucked into the scroll casing 11 from the intake port. At this time, the sucked air is heated by the centrifugal fan 12. The heated air is blown out to the radially outer peripheral side of the blade 12 a by the rotation of the centrifugal fan 12. Air blown out from the centrifugal fan 12 is blown out from the outlet of the scroll casing 11 toward the vehicle interior.

In the blower unit 10 of the present embodiment described above, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are arranged inside the grooves 12b and 12c provided in the centrifugal fan 12, so that the centrifugal type facing the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is arranged. The area of the fan 12 can be increased. For this reason, the to-be-heated area of the centrifugal fan 12 heated by induction heating by the magnetic field generated around the induction heating coils 21 and 22 can be increased. Further, by arranging the induction heating coils 21 and 22 inside the grooves 12b and 12c provided in the centrifugal fan 12, the distance between the heated portion of the centrifugal fan 12 and the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is made as small as possible. be able to.

Thus, by arranging the induction heating coils 21 and 22 in the grooves 12b and 12c provided in the centrifugal fan 12, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are simply arranged in the vicinity of the centrifugal fan 12. In comparison, the amount of power supplied from the induction heating coils 21 and 22 to the centrifugal fan 12 can be increased. Thereby, the Joule heat which generate | occur | produces with the centrifugal fan 12 can be enlarged, and the centrifugal fan 12 can be heated efficiently. As a result, air can be quickly heated immediately after the on-vehicle air conditioner is started.

In the present embodiment, the grooves 12 b and 12 c provided on the centrifugal fan 12 are arranged concentrically around the rotation axis of the centrifugal fan 12. For this reason, the centrifugal fan 12 can be rotated while maintaining a non-contact state between the induction heating coils 21 and 22 disposed in the grooves 12b and 12c.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the second embodiment, the induction heating coil 21 and the induction heating coil 22 are provided with resonance circuits 24a and 24b, respectively. Further, a phase control circuit (phase control unit) 25 that controls the phase of the alternating current flowing through the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is provided. In the second embodiment, the phase of the alternating current flowing through the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 is controlled by the phase control circuit 25. Thereby, the direction of the magnetic field generated by the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 can be switched to the same direction or the opposite direction.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 are the same, magnetic lines of force are generated around the individual induction heating coils 21 and 22. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 are opposite, magnetic lines of force are generated so as to straddle the two induction heating coils 21 and 22.

For this reason, when the directions of the magnetic fields generated by the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 are the same, the portions of the centrifugal fan 12 located near the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are concentrated in a narrow range. To be heated. On the other hand, when the direction of the magnetic field generated by the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 is opposite, the periphery of the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 is heated over a wide range. That is, according to the configuration of the second embodiment, the location of the heated surface in the centrifugal fan 12 is controlled by changing the direction of the magnetic field by controlling the phase of the alternating current of the two induction heating coils 21 and 22. Can be changed.
(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the third embodiment, in addition to the two induction heating coils 21 and 22 disposed in the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12, the induction heating coil ( A second induction heating coil) 26 is provided. The induction heating coil 26 is provided in a portion (bottom surface) different from the grooves 12 b and 12 c in the centrifugal fan 12. The induction heating coil 26 is wound in a spiral shape and is arranged in parallel with the bottom surface of the centrifugal fan 12.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, the three induction heating coils 21, 22, and 26 are connected in series. Also in the induction heating coil 26, like the induction heating coils 21 and 22, an alternating current of a predetermined frequency (25 kHz in this embodiment) flows.

According to the configuration of the third embodiment, the induction current is excited at the portion facing the induction heating coil 26 in the centrifugal fan 12 to generate an eddy current, which is heated by Joule heat. Thereby, the site | part away from the groove parts 12b and 12c heated by the induction heating coils 21 and 22 among the centrifugal fans 12 can be heated. Therefore, the centrifugal fan 12 can be efficiently heated.
(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are stacked only in one direction in the axial direction of the centrifugal fan 12, and the radial direction of the centrifugal fan 12 of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is increased. The thickness is one coil. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are folded and stacked at the upper end (air port side end), and the centrifugal fan 12 of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is stacked. The thickness in the radial direction is equivalent to two coils. That is, the induction heating coils 21 and 22 of the fourth embodiment are doubled in the radial direction of the centrifugal fan 12.

As in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are stacked in the axial direction of the centrifugal fan 12, one end side (the right side in FIG. 1) of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is Although it is located on the outlet side of the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12, the other end side (left side in FIG. 1) of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is located on the back side of the grooves 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12. It will be. For this reason, in order to draw out the wiring connected to the other end side of the induction heating coils 21, 22 from the back side of the grooves 12 b, 12 c of the centrifugal fan 12, the grooves 12 b, 12 c of the centrifugal fan 12 and the induction heating coil 21. , 22 is required to some extent.

On the other hand, in the configuration of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 10, both of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 are located on one end side and the other end side on the outlet side of the grooves 12 b and 12 c of the centrifugal fan 12. Become. For this reason, the clearance gap between the groove parts 12b and 12c of the centrifugal fan 12 and the induction heating coils 21 and 22 can be made as small as possible. As a result, the amount of power supplied from the induction heating coils 21 and 22 to the centrifugal fan 12 can be increased. Thereby, the Joule heat which generate | occur | produces with the centrifugal fan 12 can be enlarged, and the centrifugal fan 12 can be heated efficiently.
(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In the fifth embodiment, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, description thereof is omitted, and only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the blower unit 10 according to the fifth embodiment includes a power transmission / reception device including a vehicle-side power transmission / reception device 100 mounted on the vehicle 1 and an external power transmission / reception device 200 disposed outside the vehicle 1. Built into the system. Electric power can be transmitted or received between the vehicle-side power transmission / reception device 100 and the external power transmission / reception device 200.

The vehicle-side power transmission / reception device 100 is provided with a secondary battery 101, a vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102, and a vehicle-side power transmission / reception circuit 103. The vehicle-side power transmission / reception circuit 103 also includes a rectifier circuit. The external power transmission / reception device 200 is installed in a parking lot outside the vehicle, and is provided with an external power transmission / reception circuit 201 and an external power transmission / reception coil 202.

The vehicle 1 is parked so that the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 is positioned on the external power transmission / reception coil 202, and an alternating current of a predetermined frequency (25 kHz in this embodiment) is passed through the external power transmission / reception coil 202. Thereby, electric power can be transmitted from the external power transmission / reception coil 202 to the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 by the magnetic resonance type wireless power feeding. The alternating current received by the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 is converted into a direct current by the power transmission / reception circuit 103 and charged to the secondary battery 101. In the fifth embodiment, the power transmission / reception circuit 103 causes the electric power supplied from the secondary battery 101 to flow through the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 as an alternating current having a predetermined frequency (25 kHz in the present embodiment). It is also possible to transmit power from the power transmission / reception coil 102 to the external power transmission / reception coil 202 by magnetic field resonance type wireless power feeding. That is, the power transmission / reception circuit 103 is interposed between the secondary battery 101 and the external power transmission / reception device 200 to transmit and receive current.

The vehicle-side power transmission / reception circuit 103 also functions as a power supply circuit for the blower unit 10 and supplies an alternating current to the induction heating coils 21 and 22. The vehicle-side power transmission / reception circuit 103 can supply the induction heating coils 21 and 22 with an alternating current having the same frequency (25 kHz in this embodiment) as the alternating current supplied to the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102. With such a configuration, when power is not transmitted from the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 to the external power transmission / reception coil 202, an alternating current having a predetermined frequency (25 kHz in this embodiment) is caused to flow through the induction heating coils 21, 22. The centrifugal fan 12 can be heated by induction heating.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, power can be transmitted or received between the vehicle 1 and the external power transmission / reception device 200. Furthermore, the frequency of the alternating current that flows through the vehicle-side power transmission / reception coil 102 when power is transmitted from the vehicle 1 to the external power transmission / reception device 200, and the alternating current that flows through the induction heating coils 21 and 22 when the centrifugal fan 12 is heated by induction heating. The current frequency is the same. Thereby, an alternating current can be supplied to the induction heating coils 21 and 22 using the structure which transmits electric power from the vehicle 1 to the external power transmission / reception device 200. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated power supply circuit for supplying an alternating current to the induction heating coils 21 and 22.
(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this indication was described, this indication is not limited to this, and unless it deviates from the range indicated in each claim, it is not limited to the statement language of each claim, and those skilled in the art Improvements based on the knowledge that a person skilled in the art normally has can be added as appropriate to the extent that they can be easily replaced.

For example, in each said embodiment, although the example which used the ventilation unit of this indication as the ventilation unit 10 for vehicle-mounted air conditioners was demonstrated, not only this but the air blower unit which concerns on this indication other than vehicle-mounted air conditioners The present invention may be applied to an air conditioner (for example, a home air conditioner or a commercial air conditioner).

In each of the above embodiments, the grooves 12b and 12c concentric with the rotating shaft are provided on the bottom surface of the centrifugal fan 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the grooves 12b and 12c are provided at locations other than the bottom surface of the centrifugal fan 12. May be.

In each of the above embodiments, the example in which the centrifugal fan 12 is used as the fan used in the blower unit 10 of the present disclosure has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various fans such as a cross flow fan and an axial fan are used. May be.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the resonance circuit 24 is arranged outside the scroll casing 11, but the invention is not limited to this, and the resonance circuit 24 may be arranged inside the scroll casing 11 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the conditioned air can be heated using the heat generated in the resonance circuit 24. Further, the power supply circuit 23 may be disposed inside the scroll casing 11, and in this case, the conditioned air can be heated using heat generated by the power supply circuit 23.

Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated the example which connected the some induction heating coils 21 and 22 in series, as shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14 not only this but several induction heating coils 21 and 22 are shown. May be connected in parallel.

Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated the example which made the number of the groove parts 12b and 12c and the induction heating coils 21 and 22 of the centrifugal fan 12 two, it is not restricted to this, The groove part and induction heating of the centrifugal fan 12 are demonstrated. The number of coils may be 1 or 3 or more.

Also, when three induction heating coils are provided, the wiring of the power transmission circuit can be reduced by connecting these induction heating coils by delta connection or Y connection.

In each of the above embodiments, the number of turns of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 is 10. However, the number of turns is not limited to this, and the number of turns of the induction heating coils 21 and 22 may be one or more.

Claims (6)

1. An electric motor (13);
   A fan (12) that is rotationally driven by the electric motor (13) and sucks and blows in air;
   Circular grooves (12b, 12c) provided on the fan (12) and centering on the rotation axis;
   A first induction heating coil (21, 22) disposed in non-contact with the groove (12b, 12c) inside the groove (12b, 12c);
   An AC supply circuit (23, 24) for supplying an alternating current of a predetermined frequency to the first induction heating coil (21, 22),
   When the AC supply circuit (23, 24) supplies an alternating current of a predetermined frequency to the first induction heating coil (21, 22), the fan (12) generates heat by induction heating and heats the sucked air. Blower unit for air conditioner.
2. A plurality of the groove portions (12b, 12c) are provided;
   The plurality of grooves (12b, 12c) are located concentrically around the rotation axis of the fan (12),
   The air blower unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the first induction heating coil (21, 22) is provided in each of the plurality of grooves (12b, 12c).
3. Next time generated in each of the first induction heating coils by controlling the phase of the alternating current supplied to each of the first induction heating coils (21, 22) provided in the plurality of grooves (12b, 12c). The air blower unit for an air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising a phase controller (25) for changing the direction of the air conditioner.
4. A second induction heating coil (26) provided in a portion different from the groove (12b, 12c) in the fan (12) and supplied with an alternating current of a predetermined frequency from the alternating current supply circuit (23, 24) is further provided. Prepared,
   When the AC supply circuit (23, 24) supplies an alternating current of a predetermined frequency to the second induction heating coil (26), the fan (12) generates heat by induction heating and heats the sucked air. The ventilation unit for an air conditioner according to any one of 1 to 3.
5. The AC supply circuit is configured to further include a power transmission / reception circuit (103) that transmits and receives power between the secondary battery (101) and the power transmission / reception device (200),
   The power transmission / reception circuit (103) converts the alternating current received by the wireless power feeding from the power transmission / reception device (200) into a direct current to charge the secondary battery (101), and the secondary battery (101). The direct current supplied from is converted into alternating current and transmitted to the power transmitting and receiving device (200) by wireless power feeding.
   The frequency of the alternating current transmitted to the said power transmission / reception apparatus (200) and the frequency of the alternating current supplied to the said induction heating coil (21, 22) are the same as any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4. Blower unit for air conditioner.
6. A casing (11) that houses the fan (12) therein and forms an air passage through which air sucked by the fan (12) passes;
   The air-conditioning apparatus blower unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least a part of the AC supply circuit (23, 24) is disposed inside the casing (11).

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