JP7333500B2 - Outdoor unit of refrigeration cycle equipment - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device.

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically arranged blowers, a plurality of blower inverter boards for driving the blowers, and an electrical component unit H housing the plurality of blower inverter boards. It is A plurality of fan inverter boards are arranged vertically.

JP 2015-187506 A

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a compressor that compresses refrigerant and a compressor control circuit board that drives and controls the compressor. A plurality of power supply semiconductor devices are mounted on the compressor control circuit board. In general, the electric motor for driving the compressor has a higher output than the electric motor for the blower, so the power semiconductor elements of these compressor control circuit boards generate more heat than the power semiconductor elements of the blower control circuit board.

In addition, the outdoor unit of the conventional refrigeration cycle apparatus has room for improvement in the structure for cooling the power semiconductor element of the compressor control circuit board.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of improving the cooling efficiency of the power semiconductor elements of the compressor control circuit board, thereby preventing the power semiconductor elements from being damaged and their electrical characteristics from being deteriorated. intended to provide

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing for exchanging heat between air and a refrigerant flowing therein, and a heat exchanger from the outside of the housing. an air blower that draws in the air, passes the air sucked into the housing through the heat exchanger, and blows out the heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing; compresses and discharges the refrigerant; a circuit board mounted with a plurality of power supply semiconductor elements for driving and controlling said compressor; and said plurality of power supply semiconductor elements being in thermal contact with said plurality of power supply semiconductor elements. a heat sink for cooling the heat sink, the heat sink extending along the flow of the air flowing in the housing and having a plurality of fins arranged in a direction intersecting the flow of the air, the plurality of fins is higher at the upstream portion than at the downstream portion in the air flow, and the downstream portion faces the impeller of the blower, and when viewed in the direction of the rotation center line of the blower, the upstream portion The portion overlaps the outer edge of the impeller, and the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements are in contact with the heat sink at the upstream portion and are arranged in a line in the direction in which the plurality of fins are arranged, or the heat sink is at the upstream portion. are arranged in a lattice pattern in a direction in which the plurality of fins are arranged rather than in a direction in which the plurality of fins extend.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The perspective view of the outdoor unit of the refrigerating-cycle apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The front view of the outdoor unit of the refrigerating-cycle apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the electric component box and control apparatus which are accommodated in the outdoor unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the electric component box and control apparatus which are accommodated in the outdoor unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement relationship between the first heat sink and the semiconductor element for power supply of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the 2nd components box of the outdoor unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment of an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. In addition, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected to the same or corresponding structure in several drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

The refrigeration cycle device includes a heat source side heat exchanger 5, a compressor 6, a user side heat exchanger (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), and a refrigerant pipe ( (not shown) and a refrigeration cycle (not shown). The refrigeration cycle may include a four-way valve (not shown) for switching between cooling operation and heating operation of the refrigeration cycle device.

In this embodiment, the outdoor unit 1 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus accommodates a heat source side heat exchanger 5 of the refrigeration cycle, a compressor 6, an expansion valve, a four-way valve, and part of refrigerant pipes.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 1 includes a housing 12 having an air intake (not shown) and an air outlet 11, and a refrigerant disposed in the housing 12 for circulating the air and the inside. A heat exchanger 5 that exchanges heat with and sucks air from the outside of the housing 12, passes the air sucked into the housing 12 through the heat exchanger 5, and heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 12. A blower 13 that blows out, a compressor 6 that compresses and discharges the refrigerant and circulates it to the heat exchanger 5, a control device 15 that controls the operation of the refrigeration cycle device, an electrical component box 16 that houses the control device 15, It has

The heat exchanger 5 , the blower 13 , the compressor 6 , the four-way valve, and the electric parts box 16 are housed inside the housing 12 .

The outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of, for example, three air outlets 11 arranged vertically in the installed state. A blower 13 is provided for each air outlet 11 . Also, the heat exchanger 5 is arranged on the suction side of the blower 13 for each blower 13 . That is, the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment includes one housing 12 having three air outlets 11, and the blowers 13 and heat exchangers 5 corresponding to the air outlets 11, respectively.

The housing 12 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The housing 12 includes a bottom plate (not shown), a left plate 21 covering the left side, a right side plate 22 covering the right side, a front plate 23 covering the front, fingered (not shown) provided on the back, and a top plate 24 for covering the top surface.

In FIG. 2, a portion of the front plate 23 is opened so that the heat exchanger 5, the blower 13, and the electric component box 16 inside the housing 12 can be seen.

The air outlet 11 is provided on the front side of the housing 12 , that is, on the front plate 23 of the side surfaces of the housing 12 . A fan guard 26 is provided at the air outlet 11 . A fan guard 26 covers the blower 13 .

The air intake is provided on the side surface of the housing 12 from the rear surface to the left side surface of the housing 12 . The air intake is provided with a fingered. Fingered is a grid that protects the heat exchanger 5 .

The inside of the housing 12 is partitioned into two in the lateral direction of the housing 12 . One is a heat exchange chamber 28 in which the blower 13 and the heat exchanger 5 are accommodated. The other is a machine room 29 in which the compressor 6, expansion valve, four-way valve and electrical parts box 16 are housed.

When the blower 13 is rotationally driven, the air outside the housing 12 is sucked into the housing 12 through the air intake port of the housing 12 . The air sucked into the housing 12 exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 5 . The air heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger 5 is blown out of the housing 12 from the air outlet 11 by the blower 13 .

The outdoor unit 1 may be of a single-stage type with one air outlet 11 or may be of a multi-stage type with two or four or more air outlets 11 .

Next, the electrical component box 16 will be described in detail.

3 and 4 are perspective views showing an electrical component box and a control device housed in the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the electrical component box 16 viewed from the heat exchange chamber 28 side. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electrical component box 16 viewed from the machine room 29 side.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in addition to FIG. 2, the electrical component box 16 of the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment has two main parts. The first part is a first component box 31 that houses a main circuit board that controls the overall operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The second part is a second parts box 37 that houses a compressor control circuit board 35 that controls the operation of the compressor 6 and a blower control circuit board 36 that controls the operation of the blower 13 . These first component box 31 and second component box 37 are sheet metal processed products.

In FIG. 4, the second parts box 37 is open to the machine room 29 by omitting the illustration of the lid, but the second parts box 37 is closed with the lid in the actual mounting state.

The second component box 37 is a rectangular parallelepiped box that is large in the height direction and depth direction of the housing 12 and flattened in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the housing 12 . The second component box 37 includes a flat plate portion 41 that forms all or part of a wall that divides the interior of the housing 12 into two spaces, the heat exchange chamber 28 and the machine chamber 29 .

One surface 41 a of the flat plate portion 41 faces the heat exchange chamber 28 . The other surface 41 b of the flat plate portion 41 is part or all of the wall that partitions the machine room 29 . A compressor control circuit board 35 and a blower control circuit board 36 are provided on the other surface 41 b of the flat plate portion 41 .

The compressor control circuit board 35 and the blower control circuit board 36 are arranged in the vertical direction of the second parts box 37 . A first blower control circuit board 45 for controlling the two blowers 13 in the upper part of the housing 12 is provided on the upper portion of the flat plate portion 41 . A second blower control circuit board 46 for controlling one blower 13 in the lower portion of the housing 12 is provided below the flat plate portion 41 . A compressor control circuit board 35 is provided in the center of the flat plate portion 41 . Compressor control circuit board 35 is located between first fan control circuit board 45 and second fan control circuit board 46 .

A control circuit for driving and controlling the motor of the compressor 6, for example, an inverter circuit, is mounted on the compressor control circuit board 35 . This inverter circuit has a plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) and freewheeling diodes (FWD).

In FIG. 4, the dashed line indicates the range in which the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are arranged. This broken line area is configured as a module 52 having a plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51, such as an intelligent power module (IPM) or a rectifier (Rrectifire).

The blower control circuit board 36 is mounted with a control circuit for driving and controlling the motor of the blower 13, such as an inverter circuit. This inverter circuit includes a plurality of power supply semiconductor elements (not shown), such as an intelligent power module (IPM), an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a freewheeling diode (EWD), It has a rectifier (Rrectifire). Two inverter circuits are mounted on the first blower control circuit board 45 so as to correspond to the two blowers 13 . One inverter circuit is mounted on the second blower control circuit board 46 so as to correspond to one blower 13 .

A power supply semiconductor element generates heat during operation. Therefore, the electrical component box 16 includes a first heat sink 55 for cooling the power semiconductor element 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 and a second heat sink 56 for cooling the power semiconductor element of the blower control circuit board 36. ing. The first heat sink 55 and the second heat sink 56 are aluminum alloy moldings.

By the way, generally, the electric motor of the compressor 6 consumes more power than the electric motor of the blower 13 . Therefore, the power semiconductor element 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 generates more heat than the power semiconductor element of the fan control circuit board 36 .

Therefore, the second heat sink 56 for cooling the blower control circuit board 36 is a so-called on-board heat sink provided on the blower control circuit board 36 . The power semiconductor device of the fan control circuit board 36 can be sufficiently cooled with a small on-board heat sink. The second heat sink 56 cools the power semiconductor device of the blower control circuit board 36 by air flowing from the machine room 29 into the second parts box 37 .

On the other hand, the first heat sink 55 for cooling the compressor control circuit board 35 is provided on one surface 41 a of the flat plate portion 41 of the second component box 37 . The first heat sink 55 is larger than the second heat sink 56 and has approximately the same size (expansion on the surface 41 a ) as the compressor control circuit board 35 . The first heat sink 55 and the power semiconductor element of the compressor control circuit board 35 need only be thermally connected. That is, the first heat sink 55 and the power semiconductor element of the compressor control circuit board 35 may be in direct contact through an opening (not shown) provided in the flat plate portion 41 of the second component box 37, or the second The flat plate portion 41 of the component box 37 may be interposed and thermally connected via the flat plate portion 41 .

The first heat sink 55 cools the power semiconductor device 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 by the air flowing in the heat exchange chamber 28 . The flow velocity of air in the heat exchange chamber 28 where the blower 13 is arranged is higher than the flow velocity of air in the machine room 29 . Therefore, the first heat sink 55 is cooled more easily than the second heat sink 56 .

The first heat sink 55 also has a plurality of fins 61 that protrude into the heat exchange chamber 28 from the surface 41 a of the flat plate portion 41 of the second component box 37 . The plurality of fins 61 extend along the flow f of air flowing within the housing 12 (solid arrow E). The plurality of fins 61 are arranged in a direction intersecting the air flow f (solid arrow L). A plurality of fins 61 are arranged in a comb shape. The base of each fin 61 is connected to a plate-like base. Therefore, the first heat sink 55 can be easily extruded in the extending direction of the fins 61 .

Note that the arrows indicating the air flow f are drawn from upstream to downstream of the air flow.

The plurality of fins 61 has a plurality of portions with different projecting heights along the air flow f. The portion with a high protrusion height is arranged upstream from the portion with a low protrusion height in the air flow f. In other words, the portion with a low protrusion height is arranged downstream of the portion with a high protrusion height in the air flow f. In other words, the height of the plurality of fins 61 is higher at the upstream portion 63 than at the downstream portion 62 in the air flow f.

The power semiconductor element of the compressor control circuit board 35 is thermally connected to the first heat sink 55 at the upstream portion 63 of the plurality of fins 61 where the protrusion height is higher. When viewed from the projecting direction of the plurality of fins 61 , the power semiconductor element of the fan control circuit board 36 is arranged inside the area occupied by the upstream portion 63 .

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement relationship between the first heat sink and the power semiconductor element of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 are arranged in a line, the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are arranged in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged (solid line arrow L) are arranged in a row and mounted on the compressor control circuit board 35 . In other words, the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are mounted on the compressor control circuit board 35 in a row in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the plurality of fins 61 . The plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are preferably arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 extend.

Further, when the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, that is, in a grid pattern, the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are aligned in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 extend ( A large number of fins 61 are arranged in a grid pattern and mounted on the compressor control circuit board 35 in the direction (solid line arrow L) in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged from the solid line arrow E). In other words, the number of power supply semiconductor elements 51 arranged in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged is greater than the number of power supply semiconductor elements 51 arranged in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 extend. As shown in FIG. 6, when arranging in a grid of 2 rows and 3 columns, the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are aligned in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 extend, and in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged. arranged in rows. That is, three power supply semiconductor elements 51 are arranged in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged, and two power supply semiconductor elements 51 are arranged in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 extend.

5 is positioned inside the region occupied by the upstream portion 63 when viewed from the projecting direction of the plurality of fins 61. As shown in FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view of the second component box of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the second parts box 37 of the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment functions as an air passage for directly cooling the blower control circuit board 36 and the compressor control circuit board 35 .

The second component box 37 circulates the air in the machine room 29 to the heat exchange chamber 28 by the suction pressure generated in the housing 12 by the blower 13, and directly connects the blower control circuit board 36 and the compressor control circuit board 35. cooling.

A lid portion 65 of the second component box 37 is provided with a suction port 66 that allows air to flow into the second component box 37 from the machine chamber 29 . The suction port 66 is a plurality of holes provided in a portion of the lid portion 65 facing the compressor control circuit board 35 and the second blower control circuit board 46 arranged below. That is, the lid portion 65 is a so-called punching metal.

The flat plate portion 41 of the second component box 37 is provided with a blowout port 67 through which air flows out from the inside of the second component box 37 to the heat exchange chamber 28 . The air outlets 67 are a plurality of slits provided in a portion of the flat plate portion 41 facing the first fan control circuit board 45 arranged above. Each slit is provided with a louver-shaped wind direction plate. This wind direction plate is a part of the flat plate portion 41 that is bent when forming the slit in the flat plate portion 41 .

By the way, the suction port 66 of the second component box 37 is provided in the lid portion 65 , and the outlet port 67 of the second component box 37 is provided in the flat plate portion 41 . Therefore, the air flowing into the second parts box 37 from the suction port 66 directly blows onto the compressor control circuit board 35 and the second blower control circuit board 46 and goes to the blowout port 67 . This air flow ensures cooling of the compressor control circuit board 35 and the second blower control circuit board 46 .

However, since the air blown on the compressor control circuit board 35 and the second blower control circuit board 46 tries to flow out to the blowout port 67 through the gap between the first blower control circuit board 45 and the flat plate portion 41, the first Cooling of the fan control circuit board 45 may be insufficient.

Therefore, the second component box 37 has an air outlet 67 upstream of the first blower control circuit board 45 covering the air outlet 67, that is, on the side closer to the suction port 66. A plate 68 is provided.

The in-box wind direction plate 68 is wider than the first blower control circuit board 45 and wider than the first blower control circuit board 45 so as to reliably close the gap between the first blower control circuit board 45 and the flat plate portion 41 . also protrudes from the flat plate portion 41 . The in-box wind direction plate 68 directs the flow of air toward the gap between the first blower control circuit board 45 and the flat plate portion 41 to the front side of the first blower control circuit board 45 ( The surface facing the flat plate portion 41 is the rear surface, and the surface not facing the flat plate portion 41 is the front surface) to promote cooling of the first fan control circuit board 45 .

The air flowing in the second component box 37 in this manner cools the power semiconductor device of the blower control circuit board 36 through the second heat sink 56 . Therefore, the second heat sink 56 has a plurality of fins 71 projecting into the second component box 37 . The plurality of fins 71 extend along the flow of air flowing inside the second component box 37 . A plurality of fins 71 are arranged in a direction intersecting the flow of air. A plurality of fins 71 are arranged in a comb shape. The base of each fin 61 is connected to a plate-like base.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the downstream portion 62 (solid arrow H2) of the first heat sink 55 where the fins 61 protrude is low is close to the outer edge 73 of the propeller fan 72 of the blower 13. . As shown in FIG. 6, when the first heat sink 55 is viewed from the rotation centerline direction of the blower 13, the outer edge 73 of the propeller fan 72 is located upstream of the first heat sink 55 where the fins 61 protrude higher (solid arrow H1). It overlaps with the side portion 63 . In other words, the first heat sink 55 is arranged so that the downstream portion 62 of the fins 61 with a low protrusion height is brought close to the outer peripheral edge of the propeller fan 72 . The power supply semiconductor element 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 is arranged at a position closest to the propeller fan 72 when viewed from the rotation center line direction of the blower 13 . That is, when viewed in the direction of air flow for cooling the first heat sink 55, the portion 62a closest to the propeller fan 72 among the downstream portions 62 of the fins 61 is located where the power semiconductor element 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 is located. It overlaps the part where it is placed.

As described above, the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment includes the compressor control circuit board 35 on which the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 for driving and controlling the compressor 6 are mounted, and the air flowing inside the housing 12. a first heat sink 55 having a plurality of fins 61 extending along the flow and arranged in a direction intersecting the flow of air. The plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are arranged in a row in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged, or arranged in a grid pattern in a larger number in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged than in the direction in which the plurality of fins 61 are arranged. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can reduce the thermal influence between the plurality of power semiconductor elements 51 and improve the cooling efficiency of each of the power semiconductor elements 51 .

In addition, the outdoor unit 1 according to this embodiment has a plurality of fins 61 whose upstream portion 63 is higher than the downstream portion 62 in the air flow. The plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are in contact with the first heat sink 55 at the upstream portion 63 . Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can further improve the cooling efficiency of each power semiconductor element 51 .

Further, the downstream portion 62 of the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment faces the impeller of the blower 13, and the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements 51 are located at the portion closest to the impeller when viewed in the rotation center line direction of the blower 13. are placed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 1 can further improve the cooling efficiency of each power semiconductor element 51 .

Therefore, according to the outdoor unit 1 according to the present embodiment, the cooling efficiency of the power semiconductor elements 51 of the compressor control circuit board 35 is improved, and damage to these power semiconductor elements 51 and deterioration of electrical characteristics are prevented. can be prevented.

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Outdoor unit 5... Heat exchanger 6... Compressor 11... Air outlet 12... Housing 13... Blower 15... Control device 16... Electric parts box 21... Left side plate 22... Right side Plate 23 Front plate 24 Top plate 26 Fan guard 28 Heat exchange chamber 29 Machine room 31 First parts box 35 Compressor control circuit board 36 Blower control circuit board 37 Second component box 41 Flat plate portion 41a Heat exchange chamber side surface of flat plate portion 41b Machine chamber side surface of flat plate portion 45 First blower control circuit board 46 Second blower control Circuit board 51 Power supply semiconductor element 52 Module 55 First heat sink 56 Second heat sink 61 Fin 62 Downstream part 62a Downstream part of fin closest to propeller fan Part 63...Upstream side part 65...Lid portion 66...Suction port 67...Blowout port 68...In-box wind direction plate 71...Fin 72...Propeller fan 73...Outer edge.

Claims (2)

a housing;
a heat exchanger arranged in the housing for exchanging heat between air and a refrigerant flowing therein;
an air blower that sucks the air from the outside of the housing, passes the air sucked into the housing through the heat exchanger, and blows out the heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing;
a compressor that compresses and discharges the refrigerant and circulates it through the heat exchanger;
a circuit board on which a plurality of power supply semiconductor elements for driving and controlling the compressor are mounted;
a heat sink that is in thermal contact with the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements to cool the plurality of power supply semiconductor elements;
the heat sink has a plurality of fins extending along the flow of the air flowing within the housing and arranged in a direction intersecting the flow of the air;
the height of the plurality of fins is higher at an upstream portion than at a downstream portion in the air flow;
The downstream portion faces the impeller of the blower,
When viewed in the rotation center line direction of the blower, the upstream portion overlaps the outer edge of the impeller,
The plurality of power supply semiconductor elements are arranged in a row in the direction in which the plurality of fins are arranged while being in contact with the heat sink at the upstream portion , or are in contact with the heat sink at the upstream portion and are aligned in the direction in which the plurality of fins extend. and an outdoor unit of a refrigeration cycle device in which a large number of fins are arranged in a grid pattern in the direction in which the plurality of fins are arranged. 2. The outdoor unit of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of semiconductor devices for power supply are arranged at a portion closest to the impeller when viewed in the rotation center line direction of the blower.

Images