JP2013096642A - Cooling device and air conditioner with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling device capable of cooling a control board while preventing dew condensation by using one or no temperature detection means.SOLUTION: The cooling device is provided with: a cooling unit 44 for cooling air within a control box 42 by exchanging heat with a refrigerant; a fan 54 for stirring the air within the control box; fan driving means 56 for controlling driving of the fan; and in-control-box temperature detection means 60 for detecting the temperature in the control box. A fan driving control device is configured to stop the fan when the in-control-box temperature detecting means detects a temperature below a predetermined temperature and to drive the fan when the in-control-box temperature detecting means detects a temperature above the predetermined temperature. Even when one temperature detection means needed for temperature detection is available or not available, a temperature rise of a control component can be suppressed while dew condensation is prevented so as to actualize an air conditioner with high reliability.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling device that cools control components of an air conditioner, and an air conditioner including the same.

  Conventionally, in an air conditioner having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a pipe through which refrigerant flows by connecting them, control components such as a control board are protected from, for example, dust or water It is housed in a control box for this purpose. At that time, it is necessary to consider cooling of the control component in order to ensure that the control component operates stably. However, when cooling the control component in this way, there is a problem that condensation occurs if the control component is cooled too much. there were. Thus, there has been proposed one that detects the temperature in the control box and the temperature of the control component and determines whether to drive or stop the cooling device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 shows a conventional cooling device described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, a refrigeration cycle 7 including an electrical component box 2 containing a heating element 1, a compressor 3, a condenser 4, an expansion valve 5, and an evaporator 6, and a low temperature in the refrigeration cycle 7 A cooling mechanism 8 that cools the heating element 1 with a refrigerant through a radiator 12, heating element temperature detection means 9 that detects the temperature of the heating element 1, and air that detects the temperature in the electrical component box 2 The temperature detection means 10 and the heating element temperature detected by the heating element temperature detection means 9 are compared with the air temperature in the electrical component box detected by the air temperature detection means 10, and the heating element temperature is determined in the electrical component box. The cooling mechanism 8 is operated when the upper limit of the predetermined temperature range above the air temperature is reached, and the control unit 11 stops the cooling mechanism 8 when the lower limit of the predetermined temperature range is reached.

JP-A-5-187725

  However, in the case of the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that two temperature detecting means are necessary to determine whether the cooling mechanism is operated or stopped.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problem, and determines whether the cooling device is operated and stopped without using only one temperature detection means or not at all, and cooling that can cool the control component without causing condensation. An object is to provide an apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the cooling device of the present invention is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component (heating element), and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant. The fan drive control device comprising: a unit; a fan that stirs the air in the control box; fan drive control means for controlling drive of the fan; and temperature control means in the control box for detecting the temperature in the control box. Is configured to stop the fan when the temperature detecting means in the control box detects a temperature below a predetermined value and to drive the fan when a temperature above the predetermined value is detected.

As a result, it is possible to cool the control component by detecting the temperature inside the control box rather than the temperature of the control component itself, in other words, control without driving the fan until the temperature inside the control box rises to a certain temperature. Condensation is prevented by not actively cooling the parts, but if the temperature inside the control box exceeds a certain level, the fan will drive and cool down, so the control parts will not reach the specified temperature and the control parts will not be In addition to being able to protect, the temperature detecting means necessary for driving the fan for cooling the control components can be provided as one temperature detecting means in the control box, and can be provided at low cost.

  Further, the cooling device of the present invention is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component, and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and agitates the air in the control box. Fan driving control means for controlling driving of the fan, frequency detecting means for detecting the frequency of the compressor for circulating the refrigerant, or frequency setting means for setting a predetermined frequency, and the fan driving control. When the frequency detection means detects a temperature frequency below a predetermined value or the frequency setting means outputs a frequency below a predetermined frequency, the apparatus stops the fan and detects a frequency above a predetermined value or detects a frequency above a predetermined value. When output, the fan is driven.

  As a result, even if there is no temperature detection means, it is possible to protect the control component by preventing the control component from reaching a predetermined temperature or more while preventing condensation, and it can be provided at a lower cost.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of the control component while preventing dew condensation even when there is one or no temperature detection means necessary for temperature detection, and a cooling device having high reliability and this cooling An air conditioner using the apparatus can be realized at low cost.

Schematic configuration diagram of a cooling device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and an air conditioner using the same Schematic configuration diagram showing the inside of the control box shown in FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cooling unit shown in FIG. The schematic block diagram of the cooling device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention, and an air conditioner using the same The schematic block diagram of the cooling device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention, and an air conditioner using the same Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional cooling device and an air conditioner using the same

  The first invention is arranged in a state separated from the control components in the control box, and a cooling unit that cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan that stirs the air in the control box, Fan drive control means for controlling the drive of the fan, and control box temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the control box, the fan drive control device has a temperature at which the control box temperature detection means is below a predetermined temperature. When the temperature is detected, the fan is stopped, and if the temperature is detected above a predetermined level, the fan is driven, and the control component can be cooled while preventing condensation. In addition, the temperature detection means in the control box can be realized with a single temperature detection means, so that it is inexpensive.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling unit that is arranged in the control box in a state separated from the control component and that cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and a fan that stirs the air in the control box. Fan drive control means for controlling the drive of the fan, frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of the compressor for circulating the refrigerant, or frequency setting means for setting a predetermined frequency, the fan drive control device, When the frequency detection means detects a frequency below a predetermined value or the frequency setting means outputs a frequency below a predetermined frequency, the fan is stopped, and when a frequency higher than a predetermined value is detected or a frequency higher than a predetermined value is output, the fan is turned off. As it is configured to be driven and it is possible to cool the control component while preventing condensation of the control component, it has high reliability, It is possible to realize without degrees detection means can be provided at lower cost.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling unit that is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component and that cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and a fan that stirs the air in the control box. Fan driving control means for controlling driving of the fan, current value detecting means for detecting a current value flowing through the compressor for circulating the refrigerant, or current value setting means for setting a predetermined current value, The drive control device stops the fan when the current value detecting means detects a value below a predetermined value or the current value setting means outputs a value below a predetermined value, and detects a value above a predetermined value or above a predetermined value. If the value is output, the fan is driven and the control component can be cooled while preventing condensation of the control component. It is possible to provide a lower cost because it is possible to realize without.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cooling unit that is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component and that cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and a fan that stirs the air in the control box. The fan drive control means for controlling the drive of the fan, and the outside air temperature detection means for detecting the outside air temperature, wherein the outside air temperature detection means detects the temperature below a predetermined value. Is configured to drive the fan when the fan is stopped and a temperature above a predetermined level is detected, and the control component can be cooled while preventing dew condensation on the control component. Since the detection means can be realized by one temperature detection means, it is inexpensive.

  According to a fifth invention, in the first to fourth inventions, the cooling unit includes a fin structure having a plurality of fins and a refrigerant pipe attached to a side surface opposite to the fins of the fin structure. And the said fin and the groove | channel for refrigerant | coolant piping mounting | wearing are set as the structure formed in the same direction, A fin structure can be produced cheaply by pultrusion molding or extrusion molding.

  6th invention is set as the structure which has arrange | positioned the cooling unit in the 1st-5th invention below the control component, and has arrange | positioned the water receiving tray under the said cooling unit, Even if condensed water generate | occur | produces, This dew condensation water can prevent the control component from getting wet.

  According to a seventh invention, in the first to sixth inventions, the cooling unit directly attaches a fin structure having a plurality of fins to an appropriate position of a control board that is a part of the control component. It is configured to be exposed to the outside of the control box having a built-in cooling unit, and can be effectively cooled by providing the fin structure at a heating element installation portion that generates particularly high heat on the control board.

  According to an eighth invention, in the first to seventh inventions, the fan that stirs the air in the control box is arranged to blow air toward the fin structure of the cooling unit, and the air cooled by the cooling unit is The cooling effect is improved by diffusing throughout the control box, and at the same time, the flow of air around the cooling unit is accelerated, so that it is difficult for condensation to occur on the surface of the cooling unit, and the generation of condensation can be effectively prevented.

A ninth invention is an air conditioner having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a pipe through which refrigerant flows by connecting them, the air conditioner As a cooling device for cooling the control components housed in the control box, an air conditioner using the cooling device according to any one of the first to eighth inventions is provided, and condensation is prevented with an inexpensive configuration. In addition, it is possible to realize a highly reliable air conditioner that can cool the control components.

  The tenth invention is the ninth air conditioner, wherein the refrigerant of the cooling unit that cools the air in the control box in the cooling device is a refrigerant that flows through the pipe between the decompression device and the indoor heat exchanger, Since the low-pressure refrigerant flows through the decompression device, the vibration can be reduced and the cost can be reduced by reducing the thickness of the pipe. In addition, there is no need to provide a separate refrigerant passage dedicated to the cooling unit, simplifying the configuration of the air conditioner. Can measure.

  The eleventh invention is the ninth air conditioner, wherein the refrigerant of the cooling unit for cooling the air in the control box in the cooling device is a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, and an indoor heat exchanger. As a refrigerant diverted from a part of the refrigeration cycle, it is possible to prevent dew condensation and cool the control components while suppressing a decrease in the cooling capacity of the air conditioner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a cooling device and an air conditioner according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the control box according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cooling unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 20 includes a compressor 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 24, a decompression device 26, an indoor heat exchanger 28, and refrigerant pipes 30, 32, 34, and 36 connecting them. As the decompression device 26, an expansion valve or a capillary tube which is a copper capillary tube can be employed. The air conditioner 20 is divided into an outdoor unit that houses the compressor 22, the outdoor heat exchanger 24, and the decompression device 26, and an indoor unit that houses the indoor heat exchanger 28.

  In the air conditioner 20, the refrigerant flows in order from the compressor 22 through the refrigerant pipes 30, 32, 34, and 36, the outdoor heat exchanger 24, the decompression device 26, the cooling unit 44 of the control box 42 described later, the indoor heat. A refrigeration cycle that returns to the compressor 22 through the exchanger 28 is realized.

  In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipe 30 toward the outdoor heat exchanger 24 in a gas phase after being compressed by the compressor 22. Next, the refrigerant is deprived of heat by heat exchange with outdoor air via the outdoor heat exchanger 24, enters a liquid phase state, and flows through the refrigerant pipe 32 toward the decompression device 26. Subsequently, the refrigerant is expanded by the decompression device 26 to reduce the pressure, and flows through the refrigerant pipe 34 toward the indoor heat exchanger 28 via the cooling unit 44 of the control box 42 described later. Then, the refrigerant takes heat from the indoor air via the indoor heat exchanger 28 to be in a gas phase, and flows through the refrigerant pipe 36 toward the compressor 22.

  The air conditioner 20 includes a control component 40 (including a control board and various electronic components mounted on the control board) 40 that controls the refrigeration cycle, and a control box 42 that protects the control component 40. The control box 42 is provided in the outdoor unit.

  The “control component” referred to in the present invention is a component used for controlling the air conditioner 20, for example, an electronic component that controls the output of the compressor 22 and the throttle amount of the expansion valve as the pressure reducing device 26. Thus, it is not limited to a control board on which a plurality of electronic components are mounted, and refers to a component that needs to be cooled because it generates heat partially or entirely.

The control component 40 is protected from, for example, dust or water by being accommodated in the control box 42. Therefore, the control box 42 is configured to be sealed so that dust and water do not enter the inside thereof. For example, in the control box 42, a hole through which a cable (not shown) extending from the control component 40 to the outside of the control box 42 passes is sealed. The control box 42 is preferably composed of a main body whose upper surface is open and a lid that covers the upper surface of the main body from the standpoint of maintainability, and is preferably sealed between the main body and the lid. For such a seal, a sponge-like resin material such as an EPT sheet can be used.

  Since the control component 40 is hermetically housed in the control box 42, it needs to be cooled. For this purpose, a cooling unit 44 is provided in the control box 42.

  The cooling unit 44 is configured to cool the air in the control box 42 by heat exchange with the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, and as shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant pipe 34 and the fin structure attached to the refrigerant pipe 34. 46.

  Specifically, a part of the refrigerant pipe 34 passes through the control box 42 as shown in FIG. 1, and a plurality of plate-shaped fins 46a are provided in the part of the refrigerant pipe 34 in the control box 42 as shown in FIG. A fin structure 46 is provided. The cooling unit 44 is provided at a position away from the control component 40, and is controlled by exchanging heat between the air in the control box 42 and the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe 34 via the fin structure 46. The air in the box 42 is cooled. With such a cooling unit 44, the control component 40 is cooled via air.

  The refrigerant pipe constituting a part of the cooling unit 44 is preferably a refrigerant pipe 34 connecting the decompression device 26 and the indoor heat exchanger 28. By effectively using the refrigerant pipe 34, it is not necessary to separately provide a pipe through which the refrigerant flows through the control box 42 only for cooling the air in the control box 42.

  Further, since the refrigerant pipe 34 is supplied with the refrigerant whose pressure is reduced by the decompression device 26, the pressure acting and the generated vibration are small compared to the other refrigerant pipes 30, 32, 36 shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to suppress vibration when the refrigerant pipe 34 is provided in the control box 42 as compared with the case where the other refrigerant pipes 30, 32, 36 are provided. Further, as a result, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the piping disposed in the control box 42, and there is a secondary merit that the material used can be reduced and the cost can be suppressed. Furthermore, as another reason, since the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe 34 is originally at a low pressure, the influence of the pressure loss due to the passage through the control box 42 (due to the lengthening) may be small.

  The fin structure 46 of the cooling unit 44 is integrally formed of a metal such as aluminum as shown in FIG. 3, for example. A plurality of plate-shaped fins 46 a are provided on one surface of the main body portion 46 b of the fin structure 46 so as to be arranged in parallel with each other at equal intervals. Further, the fin structure 46 includes a plurality of grooves 46c that are engaged with the portion of the refrigerant pipe 34 that is formed in a meandering shape on the surface opposite to the surface on which the fins 46a are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of grooves 46c of the fin structure 46 are formed so as to extend in the same direction as the parallel direction of the plurality of fins 46a. Thereby, the fin structure 46 can be produced by pultrusion molding or extrusion molding, and can be produced at a lower cost than other production methods (for example, cutting).

If possible, it is preferable that the cooling unit 44 be disposed apart from the control component 40 and below the control component 40 as shown in FIG. This is for reliably preventing the control component from getting wet by the condensed water generated on the surface of the cooling unit 44 (specifically, the surface of the fin structure 46 and the surface of the refrigerant pipe 34).

  It is preferable to provide a dish-shaped water receiving tray 48 that receives the condensed water below the cooling unit 44 in case the condensed water generated on the surface of the cooling unit 44 drops. Thereby, it can prevent that the component of the air conditioner 20 located under the cooling unit 44 gets wet with dew condensation water. As shown in FIG. 2, a drain pipe 49 for discharging condensed water in the water tray 48 to the outside of the control box 42 may be connected to the bottom of the water tray 48.

  In addition to the cooling unit 44, this cooling device is provided with several means for cooling another control component 40 (another part of the control board).

  A fin structure 52, which is different from the fin structure 46 of the cooling unit 44, is directly attached to the control component 40, particularly to a portion that generates high heat (for example, a heating element installation portion) of the control board that is a part of the control component 40. ing. The fin structure 52 is configured to exchange heat between the control component 40 and the air outside the control box 42.

  Specifically, like the fin structure 46 of the cooling unit 44, the fin structure 52 is made of, for example, aluminum and includes a plurality of fins 52a. The fins 52 a of the fin structure 52 are configured to be exposed to the outside of the control box 42. The fins 52a are provided so as to be located leeward of a fan (not shown) for discharging the air around the outdoor heat exchanger 24 to the outside of the outdoor unit. Through such a fin structure 52, the control component 40 is cooled by a fan (not shown) of the outdoor unit.

  A fan 54 for forcibly stirring the air in the control box 42 is provided in the control box 42. When the drive of the fan 54 is stopped, even if the compressor 22 is driven and a low-temperature refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipe 34, the cooling unit 44 has little cooling effect on the control component 40, and the fan 54 When 54 is driven, the air in the control box 42 is agitated to make the temperature distribution in the control box 42 uniform, and the cooling efficiency of the control component 40 can be increased. Therefore, when it is desired to cool the control component 40, the fan 54 is driven. The drive of the fan 54 is controlled by fan drive control means 56 attached to the control component 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fan 54 is preferably arranged so as to blow air toward the fin structure 46 of the cooling unit 44. When the fan 54 blows air toward the fin structure 46, the air cooled by the cooling unit 44 is diffused throughout the control box 42. Further, the flow of air around the cooling unit 44 becomes faster, and condensed water is less likely to be generated on the surface of the cooling unit 44.

  Furthermore, in order to suppress the movement of heat from the outside to the inside of the control box 42, the internal space of the control box 42 is preferably insulated by a heat insulating material (not shown). The heat insulating material is provided on the outer surface of the control box 42, for example. By this heat insulating material, the cooling effect with respect to the control component 40 by the cooling unit 44 improves compared with the case where there is no heat insulating material. The heat insulating material is preferably provided on the outer surface of the control box 42 from the viewpoint of effective use of the space in the control box 42, but may be provided on the inner surface of the control box 42.

  Examples of the heat insulating material include fiber heat insulating materials such as glass wool, foam heat insulating materials such as urethane foam, and vacuum heat insulating materials. It is preferable to use a vacuum heat insulating material having higher heat insulating performance than the heat insulating material. Examples of the vacuum heat insulating material include those obtained by packing glass fibers with a laminate film and reducing the internal pressure thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control component 40 includes a control box internal temperature detection means 60 for detecting the temperature in the control box 42 in addition to the fan drive control means 56.

  After the compressor 22 starts operation, when the temperature in the control box 42 is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature T1, the fan drive control means 56 does not drive the fan 54 and does not cool the control component 40. When the temperature in the control box 42 becomes equal to or higher than T1 and the control box internal temperature detection means 60 detects this, the fan drive control means 56 drives the fan 54 to cool the control component 40, and the control component 40 exceeds the predetermined temperature. To prevent damage. Further, when the temperature in the control box 42 becomes a temperature T2 lower than T1 provided separately from T1, or becomes a temperature equal to or lower than T2, and the temperature detection means 60 in the control box detects this, the fan drive control means 56 detects the fan 54 Stop.

  The control component 40 is required by not driving the fan 54 while the temperature in the control box 42 is equal to or lower than T1, or by stopping the fan 54 when the temperature falls below T2 once it exceeds T1. By cooling as described above, it is possible to prevent dew condensation on the control board (control component) 40 and to ensure reliability. Two different temperatures T1 and T2 are provided as temperature thresholds for determining the driving and stopping of the fan 54. When T2 is the same temperature as T1, the fan 54 is changed when the temperature in the control box 43 repeats a slight change. This is to prevent this because the driving and stopping are frequently repeated, and the possibility of failure of the fan 54 increases.

  It should be noted that if the fan 54 is not driven when the temperature in the control box 42 is more than once, that is, if the control component 40 is not cooled, the control component 40 is damaged, and what is the temperature in the control box 42. If the temperature of the control component 40 is reduced when the fan 54 is driven and the control component 40 is cooled, the temperature of the control component 40 can be set by knowing the temperature condition in advance. Thus, even when only one temperature detection means is used, it is possible to cool the control component 40 while preventing condensation, and to prevent the control component 40 from being damaged. When the drive of the fan 54 is controlled using a plurality of temperature detection means Is cheaper than.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

  For example, in the above description, the air conditioner 20 in which the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 22, the outdoor heat exchanger 24, the decompression device 26, and the indoor heat exchanger 28, that is, the air conditioner 20 that performs the cooling operation has been described. The invention is not limited to this. An air conditioner in which the refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 22, the indoor heat exchanger 28, the decompression device 26, and the outdoor heat exchanger 24, that is, an air conditioner that performs a heating operation or a cooling operation and a heating operation can be switched. The present invention can also be applied to a possible air conditioner.

  In the case of the above-described embodiment, the cooling unit 44 is configured to cool the air in the control box 42 using all the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe 34, but the present invention is not limited to this. . A part of the refrigerant flowing in any one of the refrigerant pipes 30, 32, 34, 36 may be used for cooling the air in the control box 42.

  For example, a bypass pipe that branches from the refrigerant pipe 34 near the downstream side of the decompression device 26, passes through the control box 42, and reaches the refrigerant pipe 34 near the upstream side of the indoor heat exchanger 28. And the cooling unit 44 may be configured by attaching a fin structure to the bypass pipe. In this case, the cooling capacity of the air conditioner 20 is improved, although the cooling capacity of the control component 40 is reduced as compared with the above-described embodiment.

  Although the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included therein, so long as they do not depart from the scope of the present invention according to the appended claims.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 66 denotes an outside air temperature detecting means for detecting the outside air temperature, and only the parts different from the first embodiment are described below.

  When the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature T3, when the outside air temperature detecting means 66 detects this, the fan drive control means 56 drives the fan 54 to cool the control component 40, and the control component 40 is broken above a certain temperature. To prevent it. When the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature T4, the fan drive control means 56 does not drive the fan 54 and does not cool the control component 40, but cools the control component 40 more than necessary to prevent condensation. Further, when the fan 54 is driven and the outside air temperature changes from a temperature of T4 or higher to a temperature of T4 or lower, the fan 54 is stopped and the control component 40 is cooled more than necessary to cause condensation. prevent.

  The reason why two different temperatures T3 and T4 are provided as temperature thresholds for determining the driving and stopping of the fan 54 is to prevent the fan 54 from frequently failing to be driven and stopped.

  It should be noted that if the fan 54 is not driven when the outside air temperature is more than the number, that is, if the control part 40 is not cooled unless the control part 40 is cooled, and the fan 54 When the control component 40 is cooled by driving the control component 40, it is possible to set the temperature of T3 and T4 by grasping the temperature condition in advance, and there is one temperature detection means. However, it is possible to cool the control component 40 while preventing condensation and prevent the control component 40 from being damaged, which is less expensive than the case where the drive of the fan 54 is controlled using a plurality of temperature detection means.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, 62 is a frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of the compressor 22, and 64 is a current value detection means for detecting the current value flowing through the compressor, both of which are provided in the control component 40. Only the parts different from the first and second embodiments will be described below.

  When the compressor detection means 62 detects a frequency equal to or higher than the predetermined frequency f1, the fan drive control means 56 drives the fan 54 to cool the control component 40, and the control component 40 is damaged when the temperature exceeds a certain temperature. To prevent. When the compressor detection means 62 detects a frequency equal to or lower than the predetermined frequency f2, the fan drive control means 56 does not drive the fan 54 and does not cool the control component 40, but cools the control component 40 more than necessary to cause condensation. Prevent it from occurring.

  The predetermined frequency f1 is obtained by grasping in advance the frequency of the compressor that needs to cool the control component 40 by driving the fan 54 and the frequency that needs to prevent the control component 40 from condensing by stopping the fan 54. , F2 can be set, and even if there is no temperature detection means, the control component 40 can be cooled while preventing condensation, and the control component 40 can be prevented from being damaged, and the fan 54 is driven using the temperature detection means. Compared with the case of controlling the cost, it is cheaper.

Further, when the current value detection means 64 detects a predetermined current value I1 or more, the fan drive control means 56 drives the fan 54 to cool the control component 40, and the control component 40 is damaged at a certain temperature or more. To prevent. When the current value detection means 64 detects a predetermined current value I2 or less, the fan drive control means 56 does not drive the fan 54 and does not cool the control component 40, but cools the control component 40 more than necessary to cause condensation. To prevent.

  By grasping in advance the current value that needs to cool the control component 40 by driving the fan 54 and the current value that needs to prevent the control component 40 from condensing by stopping the fan 54, the predetermined frequency f1, f2 can be set, and even if there is no temperature detecting means, it is possible to cool the control component 40 while preventing condensation, thereby preventing the control component 40 from being damaged, and the fan 54 is driven using the temperature detecting means. Compared with the case of controlling, it is cheaper.

  Two values such as frequencies f1 and f2 and current values I1 and I2 are provided as threshold values for controlling the driving and stopping of the fan 54 using the frequency and the current value. This is to prevent frequent and repeated failures.

  As described above, even if the frequency detection unit 62 and the current value detection unit 64 are provided and the frequency and current value are not detected, for example, the frequency setting unit and the current value setting unit provided in the control component can be When the drive frequency or current value is sent to the compressor 22 by a control signal, the drive of the fan 54 can be controlled based on the control value.

  In addition, when the compressor 22 that was being driven is stopped, if the control part needs to be cooled for a certain period of time and there is no risk of condensation of the control part, the fan 54 is turned on for a certain period after the compressor 22 is stopped. A method of driving and cooling the control component is also conceivable.

  In the above implementation Keita, the method of controlling using either the frequency detection means 62 or the current value detection means 64 to control the drive and stop of the fan 54 has been described. It doesn't matter. In addition, it is also possible to control the drive of the fan 54 by combining either or both of the frequency detection means 62 and the current value detection means 64, and the control box internal temperature detection means 60 and the outside air temperature detection means 66. is there. Even in this case, only one temperature detecting means is required, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the driving of the fan 54 is controlled by using a plurality of temperature detecting means.

  The present invention provides a highly reliable cooling device capable of suppressing a temperature rise of a control component using a refrigerant while preventing condensation from occurring even when there is one or no temperature detection means necessary for temperature detection, and An air conditioner using this cooling device can be realized at a low cost, and is not limited to an air conditioner as long as it cools the air in the control box using a refrigerant, for example, a refrigerant handling unit such as a refrigerator. Is also applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Air conditioner 22 Compressor 24 Outdoor heat exchanger 26 Pressure reducing device 28 Indoor heat exchanger 40 Control component 42 Control box 44 Cooling unit 54 Fan 56 Fan drive control means 60 Control box temperature detection means 62 Frequency detection means 64 Current value Detection means 66 Outside air temperature detection means

Claims (11)

A cooling unit that is arranged in the control box in a state separated from the control components and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan that stirs the air in the control box, and controls the drive of the fan And a fan drive control means for detecting the temperature in the control box, and the fan drive control device is configured such that the temperature detection means in the control box detects a temperature below a predetermined value. Is a cooling device that stops the fan and drives the fan when a temperature above a predetermined level is detected. A cooling unit that is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan that stirs the air in the control box, and driving the fan A fan drive control means for controlling, a frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of the compressor for compressing the refrigerant, or a frequency setting means for setting a predetermined frequency, wherein the frequency detection means has a predetermined frequency detection means. A cooling device that stops the fan when the following frequency is detected or the frequency setting means outputs a predetermined frequency or less and drives the fan when a predetermined frequency or higher is detected or a predetermined frequency or higher is output. A cooling unit that is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan that stirs the air in the control box, and driving the fan Fan drive control means for controlling, current value detection means for detecting a current value flowing in the compressor for compressing the refrigerant, or current value setting means for setting a predetermined current value, wherein the fan drive control device includes: When the current value detection means detects a value less than a predetermined value or the current value setting means outputs a value less than a predetermined value, the fan is stopped, and when a value greater than a predetermined value is detected or a value greater than a predetermined value is output, the fan Cooling device to drive. A cooling unit that is disposed in the control box in a state separated from the control component and cools the air in the control box by heat exchange with the refrigerant, a fan that stirs the air in the control box, and driving the fan A fan drive control means for controlling and an outside air temperature detection means for detecting an outside air temperature, wherein the fan drive control device stops the fan when the outside air temperature detection means detects a temperature below a predetermined value. In addition, a cooling device that drives the fan if a temperature above a predetermined level is detected. The cooling unit includes a fin structure having a plurality of fins, and a refrigerant pipe mounted on the opposite side of the fin structure to the fin, and the fin and the groove for installing the refrigerant pipe are in the same direction. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cooling device is formed. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cooling unit is disposed below the control component, and a water tray is disposed below the cooling unit. The cooling unit has a structure in which a fin structure having a plurality of fins is directly attached to an appropriate position of a control board, which is a part of the control component, and the fins of the fin structure are configured to be exposed to the outside of the control box incorporating the cooling unit. Item 7. The cooling device according to any one of Items 1 to 6. The cooling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fan that stirs the air in the control box is arranged to blow air toward the fin structure of the cooling unit. An air conditioner having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, an indoor heat exchanger, and a pipe through which refrigerant flows by connecting them, and is housed in a control box of the air conditioner The air conditioner using the cooling device of any one of Claims 1-8 as a cooling device which cools the control components made. The air conditioner according to claim 9, wherein the refrigerant of the cooling unit that cools the air in the control box in the cooling device is a refrigerant that flows through a pipe between the decompression device and the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant of the cooling unit that cools the air in the control box in the cooling device is a refrigerant that is diverted from a part of the refrigeration cycle including the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the decompression device, and the indoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner according to claim 9.