WO2023181725A1 - Air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To suppress short-circuits and failures resulting from drain water generated in a pathway from a pressure reducer to a compressor, without an increase in device size. [Solution] Provided is an air conditioning device 1 comprising a refrigerant circuit including a compressor 20, a heater 40, a pressure reducer (pressure reducing unit) 70, and a cooler 30, and a control device 80 for controlling the refrigerant circuit, wherein, in a horizontal direction perpendicular to a flow direction of air passing through the cooler, the pressure reducer is disposed on one side of the cooler, and the compressor is disposed on the other side of the cooler.

Description

air conditioner

The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

Conventionally, there have been small air conditioners that house a set of equipment necessary for air conditioning, such as equipment that makes up the refrigerant circuit (compressor, condenser, evaporator, pressure reducer, etc.) and a blower, as well as a control device that controls these. Are known. Among such air conditioners, there is one in which a compressor and a condenser are arranged on the lower side in the vertical direction, and an evaporator and a pressure reducer are arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction.

For example, in Patent Document 1, the inside of the main body is divided into a cooling chamber located at the top and a heat radiation chamber located at the bottom, and the cooling chamber receives an evaporator and drain water (condensation water) attached to the evaporator. An air conditioner is disclosed in which a water receiving tray for draining water is provided, and a heat radiation chamber is provided with a compressor, a condenser, and a pressure reducer (FIG. 6). That is, in the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, the pressure reducer and the evaporator are arranged vertically above the compressor and the condenser.

JP2009-222327A

In such air conditioners, the evaporator and pressure reducer are located vertically above the compressor, so there is a risk that drain water generated on the path from the pressure reducer to the compressor may drip into the compressor. . In particular, if drain water drips onto the terminals of the compressor, there is a risk of short circuits or breakdowns. Furthermore, not only the compressor but also electrical components such as a control device may be damaged due to dripping of drain water.
On the other hand, as mentioned above, small air conditioners are installed and used in relatively small and limited spaces, and as a result, further miniaturization is required. There are restrictions on changes.

The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to suppress short circuits and failures caused by drain water occurring in the path from the pressure reducer to the compressor, without increasing the size of the device. This is an issue.

One aspect of the present invention is an air conditioner including a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heater, a pressure reducing part, and a cooler, and a control device that controls the refrigerant circuit, wherein An air conditioner is provided, in which the pressure reducing section is disposed on one side of the cooler and the compressor is disposed on the other side of the cooler in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

According to the present invention, short circuits and failures caused by drain water occurring in the path from the pressure reducer to the compressor can be suppressed without increasing the size of the device.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a rear view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a right side view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic internal configuration of an air conditioner according to a comparative example.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

1 to 6 show the schematic configuration of an air conditioner 1 according to this embodiment. The air conditioner 1 includes a housing 10, a compressor 20 housed in the housing 10, a cooler 30, a heater 40, a first blower 50, a second blower 60, a pressure reducer (pressure reducing section) 70, and a control unit. A device 80 is provided. The compressor 20, the cooler 30, the heater 40, and the pressure reducer 70 are connected by refrigerant pipes 91 to 94, and constitute a refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant circulates.

In the air conditioner 1, air passes through the cooler 30 and the heater 40 along the front-rear direction of the air conditioner 1. That is, in the air conditioner 1, the front-rear direction of the air conditioner 1 is the direction of air flow in the cooler 30 and the heater 40. By circulating air from the back to the front of the cooler 30 and circulating air from the front to the back of the heater 40, the heat between the air passing through the cooler 30 and the heater 40 and the refrigerant is reduced. Let the exchange take place. The flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit and the flow of air passing through cooler 30 and heater 40 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front of the casing 10, a control panel 11 is provided at a position corresponding to the housing position of the control device 80, an air outlet 12 is provided at a position corresponding to the housing position of the cooler 30, An air suction port 13 is provided at a position corresponding to the housing position of the second blower 60.
On the back surface of the casing 10, an air suction port (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the housing position of the first blower 50, and an air exhaust port (not shown) is provided at a position corresponding to the housing position of the heater 40. It is being

The control device 80 has a board (not shown) to which various electronic components including an inverter (not shown) are attached, and, for example, converts and outputs the voltage and frequency of electric power supplied from a power source, thereby compressing the power. The rotation speed of the motor that operates the machine 20 is controlled. Further, the control device 80 receives a signal input to the control panel 11, and controls the air conditioner 1 according to the received signal.

Next, the layout of each device within the casing 10 of the air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, in the case 10 of the air conditioner 1, a compressor 20, a heater 40, and a second blower 60 are arranged on the bottom plate 15, and a cooler is arranged above these in the vertical direction. 30, a first blower 50, a pressure reducer 70, and a control device 80 are arranged.

In particular, in the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the air passing through the cooler 30 and in the horizontal direction of the cooler 30 (left-right direction when viewed from the front), the pressure reducer 70 is located on one side of the cooler 30 (left side when viewed from the front). The compressor 20 is arranged on the other side of the cooler 30 (on the right side when viewed from the front) and on the lower side of the cooler 30 in the vertical direction. Further, a control device 80 is arranged on the other side of the cooler 30 (vertically above the compressor 20). Note that an accumulator 22 is arranged in front of the compressor 20.

More specifically, on the bottom plate 15, the compressor 20 is arranged on the right side of the heater 40 when viewed from the front, and the second blower 60 is arranged on the front side of the heater 40. The cooler 30 is arranged vertically above the heater 40 and slightly forward of the heater 40 so as to partially overlap the heater 40 in the vertical direction. When viewed from the front, the pressure reducer 70 is placed on the left side of the cooler 30, the control device 80 is placed on the right side, and the first blower 50 is placed on the back side of the cooler 30.

A refrigerant inlet 32 is provided on the upper surface of the cooler 30 on one side of the cooler 30 (left side in front view), that is, on the pressure reducer 70 side, through which the refrigerant that has passed through the pressure reducer 70 flows into the cooler 30. ing. Further, on the upper surface of the cooler 30, a refrigerant outlet 33 for the refrigerant that passes through the cooler 30 and returns to the compressor 20 is provided on the rear side of the refrigerant inlet 32.

That is, in the cooler 30, the refrigerant inlet 32 is provided so that the refrigerant flows in from the upper surface of the cooler 30, and the refrigerant outlet 33 is provided so that the refrigerant flows out from the upper surface of the cooler 30. . The refrigerant outlet 33 and the compressor 20 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 94. The refrigerant pipe 94 is routed from the refrigerant outlet 33 to the rear side of the control device 80 , and then passes below the control device 80 and is connected to the front side of the compressor 20 .

A refrigerant inlet 42 is provided on the upper surface of the heater 40 on one side of the heater 40 (on the left side when viewed from the front) and on the rear side of the heater 40, through which the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 20 flows. ing. Further, on the upper surface of the heater 40 , a refrigerant outlet 43 is provided on the front side of the refrigerant inlet 42 so as to pass through the heater 40 and flow out toward the pressure reducer 70 .

That is, in the heater 40, the refrigerant inlet 42 is provided so that the refrigerant flows in from the upper surface of the heater 40, and the refrigerant outlet 43 is provided so that the refrigerant flows out from the upper surface of the heater 40. .
The compressor 20 and the refrigerant inlet 42 of the heater 40 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 91, the refrigerant outlet 43 and the pressure reducer 70 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 92, and the pressure reducer 70 and the refrigerant inlet 32 of the cooler 30 are connected. and is connected by a refrigerant pipe 93. Both the refrigerant pipe 92 and the refrigerant pipe 93 are located on the pressure reducer 70 side with respect to the cooler 30.

(About the flow of refrigerant)
In the refrigerant circuit connected as described above, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 20 and discharged as a high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the refrigerant pipe 91 and flows into the heater 40 via the refrigerant inlet 42, and radiates heat by exchanging heat with the air blown from the second blower 60 and passing through the heater 40. .

The high-pressure refrigerant flowing out from the refrigerant outlet 43 of the heater 40 passes through the refrigerant pipe 92 and flows into the pressure reducer 70, and is depressurized and expanded by the pressure reducer 70 to become a low-pressure refrigerant. The refrigerant whose pressure has become low in the pressure reducer 70 passes through the refrigerant pipe 93 and flows into the cooler 30 from the refrigerant inlet 32 . The low-pressure refrigerant flowing into the cooler 30 absorbs heat by exchanging heat with the air blown by the first blower 50 and passing through the cooler 30, and flows out through the refrigerant outlet 33 of the cooler 30. The refrigerant flowing out of the cooler 30 flows through the refrigerant pipe 94 and returns to the compressor 20 via the accumulator 22. The refrigerant that has flowed into the compressor 20 is compressed again, and the above circulation is repeated.

(Regarding the air passing through the cooler 30 and heater 40)
The first blower 50 is disposed on the upstream side of the cooler 30 in the air flow direction, and blows air taken in from an inlet provided on the back surface of the housing 10 to the cooler 30. The air blown from the first blower 50 to the cooler 30 is cooled by absorbing heat from the refrigerant while passing through the cooler 30. The cooled air is blown out as cold air from the outlet 12 of the housing 10.

The second blower is arranged on the upstream side of the heater 40 in the air flow direction, and blows air taken in from the suction port 13 provided on the front of the housing 10 to the heater 40. The air blown from the second blower 60 to the heater 40 exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the process of passing through the heater 40, and flows out from an exhaust port (not shown) provided on the back surface of the casing 10.

Note that the cooler 30 is configured by housing the cooler body in a case, and the heater 40 is configured by housing the heater 40 body in a case. The cooler 30 introduces air through the air suction opening of the case, exchanges heat with the heat medium in the cooler body, and then blows the air through the air outlet 31 provided in the housing 10. Cool air is sent to the outlet 12. The heater 40 introduces air through the air suction opening of the case, exchanges heat with the heat medium in the heater body, and then passes the air through the exhaust opening 41 through the exhaust port of the housing 10. and send it.

As described above, in the process of circulating through the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant that has been decompressed and expanded by the pressure reducer 70 has become a low-pressure refrigerant. Therefore, in the path from the pressure reducer 70 to the compressor 20, drain water tends to adhere to the pressure reducer 70, refrigerant piping 93, refrigerant inlet 32, and the outside of the cooler main body, and the attached drain water They tend to drip downward in the vertical direction.

At this time, in the air conditioner 1, the pressure reducer 70, the refrigerant pipe 93, and the refrigerant inlet 32 are all arranged on the left side when the air conditioner 1 is viewed from the front. On the other hand, electrical components such as the compressor 20 and the control device 80 are located on the opposite side of the pressure reducer 70, refrigerant piping 93, and refrigerant inlet 32 with the cooler 30 in between. Therefore, drain water does not drip onto the compressor 20 and the control device 80 from the pressure reducer 70, the refrigerant pipe 93, and the refrigerant inlet 32.

Furthermore, in the casing 10, the control panel 11 that is electrically connected to the control device 80 is also located on the right side when the casing 10 is viewed from the front so as to correspond to the arrangement position of the control device 80. Therefore, the wiring between the control device 80 and the control panel 11 can be easily and shortened, and the control panel 11 and the terminals and wiring connecting the control panel 11 and the control device 80 can also be prevented from adhering to drain water. It can be prevented.

If the drain water attached to the pressure reducer 70 and the refrigerant pipe 93 drips, it drips onto the bottom plate 15 through the case of the heater 40 and the case of the cooler 30. Since the refrigerant inlet 32 is provided on the upper surface of the cooler 30, the drain water adhering to the refrigerant inlet 32 is prevented from dripping to the outside of the case of the cooler 30, such as staying on the upper surface of the cooler 30. be done.

Furthermore, in the path from the pressure reducer 70 to the compressor 20, the refrigerant outlet 33 and the refrigerant pipe 94 have less drainage water attached than the pressure reducer 70, the refrigerant pipe 93, and the refrigerant inlet 32, but the air conditioner Depending on the environment in which the refrigerant 1 is installed, there is a possibility that drain water may also adhere to the refrigerant outlet 33 and the refrigerant pipe 94. Even in such a case, in the air conditioner 1, the refrigerant pipe 94 is routed from the top surface of the cooler 30 to the back of the control device 80, so that the refrigerant outlet 33 and the refrigerant pipe 94 are connected to the compressor 20 and the refrigerant pipe 94. It is possible to suppress dripping of drain water toward the control device 80.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, short circuits and failures caused by drain water generated in the path from the pressure reducer to the compressor can be suppressed without increasing the size of the device.

FIG. 7 shows an air conditioner 201 according to a comparative example. The air conditioner 201 includes a heater 240, a second blower 260, and a compressor 220 on a bottom plate 215, and a cooler 230, a first blower 250, a pressure reducer 270, and a control device 280 above these in the vertical direction. It is provided. In the air conditioner 201, the horizontal position of the cooler 230 is offset with respect to the heater 240, and the compressor 220 is located below the cooler 230.

Further, a refrigerant inlet 232 and a refrigerant outlet 233 for the cooler 230 are provided on the lower surface of the cooler 230 and above the compressor 20 in the vertical direction. In this case, it is conceivable to prevent the drain water from dripping by filling the area around the refrigerant inlet 232 and the refrigerant outlet 233 with a sealing member or the like to prevent the drain water from leaking. However, since the refrigerant inlet 232 and the refrigerant outlet 233 face downward and the distance between the refrigerant inlet 232 and the refrigerant outlet 233 and the compressor 220 is short, measures are taken to prevent drain water from dripping into the compressor 220. It is difficult to say that this is sufficient.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and changes in design, etc., may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Even if there is, it is included in the present invention.

1: Air conditioner, 10: Housing, 11: Control panel, 12: Air outlet, 13: Suction port,
15: Bottom plate,
20: Compressor, 22: Accumulator,
30: Cooler, 31: Blowout opening, 32: Refrigerant inlet, 33: Refrigerant outlet,
40: Heater, 41: Exhaust opening, 42: Refrigerant inlet, 43: Refrigerant outlet,
70: Pressure reducer, 80: Control device, 91-94: Refrigerant piping

Claims (5)

An air conditioner comprising a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heater, a pressure reducing part, and a cooler, and a control device that controls the refrigerant circuit,
In a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of air flow passing through the cooler,
disposing the pressure reducing part on one side of the cooler,
An air conditioner, wherein the compressor is arranged on the other side of the cooler. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is arranged on the other side of the cooler and on the lower side of the cooler. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control device is arranged on the other side of the cooler. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a refrigerant inlet provided on one side of the cooler for allowing the refrigerant that has passed through the pressure reduction section to flow into the cooler. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the refrigerant inlet is provided on one side of the cooler so that the refrigerant flows from the upper surface of the cooler.