KR20180022063A - Indoor unit of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner. An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body including an inlet formed on one surface thereof through which air is suctioned, and an outlet through which the suctioned air is heat-exchanged and discharged; a filter assembly disposed in the inlet and filtering air being suctioned; a base panel having an inlet grill and an outlet portion formed therein, and covering the one surface of the main body; and an ion generating device disposed on one surface of the base panel and applying high voltage so as to discharge air, thereby generating ions by ionizing molecules in the air being suctioned into the filter assembly.

Description

[0001] INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER [0002]

The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

Generally, an air conditioner means a device for adjusting the room temperature to create a comfortable indoor air environment.

The air conditioner includes an indoor unit installed in the room and an outdoor unit supplying the refrigerant to the indoor unit. One or more indoor units may be connected to the outdoor unit.

The air conditioner may be operated by cooling or heating operation by supplying the refrigerant to the indoor unit. Here, the cooling operation or the heating operation, which is an operating method of the air conditioner, is determined according to the flow of circulating refrigerant. That is, the air conditioner may operate in the cooling operation or the heating operation depending on the flow of the refrigerant.

The air conditioner may be operated by cooling or heating operation by supplying the refrigerant to the indoor unit. Here, the cooling operation or the heating operation, which is an operating method of the air conditioner, is determined according to the flow of circulating refrigerant. That is, the air conditioner may operate in the cooling operation or the heating operation depending on the flow of the refrigerant.

First, the flow of the refrigerant when the air conditioner operates in the cooling operation will be described. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor of the outdoor unit becomes liquid refrigerant of medium temperature and high pressure through the outdoor heat exchanger functioning as a condenser. When the liquid refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit, the refrigerant expands in the indoor heat exchanger functioning as the evaporator, and vaporization may occur. The temperature of the ambient air of the indoor heat exchanger is lowered by the vaporization phenomenon. When the indoor unit fan rotates, ambient air of the heat exchanger of the indoor unit whose temperature is lowered is discharged into the room.

In the case of an indoor unit of a general air conditioner, a filter assembly may be mounted on a suction side where air is sucked. Particularly, in recent years, a dust collecting filter assembly for applying a current to a filter assembly and allowing dust to be collected is widely used.

An invention of such a dust filter assembly is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2014-0085435 (published date: 2016.01.18).

In the case of such a dust collecting filter assembly, when power is applied to electrodes formed on both sides of the filter assembly, there is a characteristic in that dust is collected on the filter member by the large electric power while charging the filter member inside. Such a dust collecting filter assembly is widely used because the filtering efficiency is remarkably increased as compared with a general network filter.

However, in the conventional dust-collecting filter assembly, even if power is applied to the dust-collecting filter assembly, the dust in the air is not effectively collected by the dust-collecting filter assembly, and the dust in the far-away air is not filtered.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which an ion generating device is disposed on a suction port side in order to improve the dust collecting efficiency of a dust collecting filter assembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which the number of ion generating devices arranged on the suction port side is adjusted to improve the dust collecting efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which power consumption and safety are improved by stopping the operation of the ion generating device when the base panel is separated from the main body.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body including a suction port through which air is sucked on one surface thereof and a discharge port through which the sucked air is discharged through heat exchange; A filter assembly disposed at the suction port for filtering air to be sucked; A base panel which forms an intake grill and a discharge portion and covers the one surface of the main body; And an ion generating device disposed on one side of the base panel for discharging air by applying a high voltage to ionize molecules in the air sucked into the filter assembly to generate ions.

The apparatus may further include a power supply unit for supplying power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device.

The ion generating device may further include at least one electrode for emitting a high voltage when power is supplied from the power supply unit; And an electric wire connecting the power supply unit and the electrode.

The electrodes may include three electrodes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the electric wire, and the electric wires may be disposed such that the electrodes are spaced apart from each other along one side of the inlet.

Also, the base panel may include an electrode fixing portion disposed at a predetermined distance from a surface of the base panel to fix the electrode, and the electrode fixing portion may include protruding ribs protruding in the suction grill direction; And a fixing opening which is disposed in the protruding rib and into which the electrode is inserted and fixed.

The base panel may further include: a wire guide groove for guiding the electric wire connected from the power supply unit; And a fixing protrusion protruded to fix the electric wire in the electric wire guide groove.

The main body may include a power connection portion disposed on one surface of the main body and adapted to selectively apply power from the power supply portion to the filter assembly and the ion generating device, And a switch unit.

In addition, when the base panel covers the one side of the main body, the switch part is connected to the power connection part so that the power supply part supplies power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device, The power supply connection part is separated from the switch part so that the power supply part does not apply power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device.

According to the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

First, by arranging the ion generating device in the vicinity of the inlet filter assembly, the dust collecting efficiency is improved.

Second, by arranging the ion generating devices in the proper number, the dust collecting efficiency is improved at an optimal manufacturing cost.

Third, safety is improved when the indoor unit is repaired or the filter assembly is replaced.

1 is a bottom perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an exploded view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view of a filter assembly and an ion generating device in an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating one side of a base panel of an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an electric wire receiving groove and an electrode fixing portion formed in a base panel of an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
6 is a view illustrating a configuration in which an ion generating device of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a base panel;
7 is a graph showing changes in ion concentration on the inlet side according to the number of electrodes of the ion generating device of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that, in adding reference numerals to the constituent elements of the drawings, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the difference that the embodiments of the present invention are not conclusive.

In describing the components of the embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the constituent elements from other constituent elements, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or order of the constituent elements. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, Quot; may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected. &Quot;

In the present embodiment, the ceiling-type air conditioner indoor unit in which the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner is embedded in the ceiling is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It can be applied.

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, an indoor unit 1 of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 100 fixed to an inner space of a ceiling and sucking air and discharging the sucked air by heat- A filter assembly 300 disposed in a space in which the air of the main body 100 is sucked to filter the air to be sucked, and a filter assembly 300 coupled to a lower portion of the main body 100 to cover the bottom surface of the main body 100 And an ion generating device 340 connected to the base panel 200 and the filter assembly 300 to generate ions.

The main body 100 is provided with a suction port 110 through which air is sucked into one side of the bottom surface of the main body 100 and on which the filter assembly 300 can be disposed, 120 may be formed.

In addition, various heat exchanging parts for discharging the sucked air after heat exchange may be disposed in the suction port 110 and the discharge port 120. The heat exchanging part is a heat exchanging part inside the indoor unit used in the related art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the main body 100 may be formed with coupling openings 130 on both sides of the ceiling so as to be fixed to the upper space of the ceiling by fastening means such as bolts. However, it is noted that the fixing structure for fixing the main body 100 to the internal space of the ceiling is not limited to the coupling opening 130 and the fastening means, as various known methods can be used.

Also, a power connection unit 140 may be disposed on one side of the bottom surface of the main body 100. When the switch unit 240 of the base panel 200 is inserted, the power connection unit 140 applies power to the filter assembly 300, and the switch unit 240 of the base panel 200 240 are spaced apart from each other, power is not applied to the filter assembly 300.

The base panel 200 may cover the suction port 110 and the discharge port 120 by covering the bottom surface of the main body 100.

More specifically, the base panel 200 includes a plurality of suction grilles 210 disposed below the suction port 110 when the bottom panel 200 is coupled to cover the bottom surface of the main body 100 to suck air therein, And a discharging unit 220 disposed below the discharging unit 120 and capable of selectively discharging discharged air. In this case, the discharging unit 220 may have a shape in which both sides of the vane are hinged so that the discharging opening 120 can be selectively opened and closed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter assembly and an ion generating device in an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an electric wire receiving groove and an electrode fixing portion formed on a base panel of an air conditioner indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. And the ion generating device in the configuration of the indoor unit is connected to the base panel.

3 to 7, the filter assembly 300 is disposed on the suction port 110 side to filter foreign substances such as dust contained in the air sucked.

In detail, the filter assembly 300 includes a plurality of filter films 310 and a plurality of filter films 310 arranged to surround the plurality of filter films 310, And a power supply unit 330 disposed at one side of the filter case 320 to supply power to the plurality of filter films 310. [ It is noted that the power supply unit 330 is an independent structure that is connected to the filter assembly 300 for convenience of configuration and can be disposed separately from the filter assembly 300.

Accordingly, when a power source supplied from the power supply unit 330 is applied to the plurality of filter films 310, dust is stuck to the filter film 310 by charging between adjacent filter films of the plurality of filter films 310, And the air is filtered by the filter 310.

In addition, an ion generator 340 may be connected to the power supply unit 330 of the filter assembly 300.

In detail, the ion generating device 340 generates a high voltage to ionize molecules in the air flowing into the filter assembly 300 through the inlet 110, so that the dust is charged by the ionized molecules, So that the charged dust can be efficiently collected in the filter assembly 300.

In detail, the ion generating device 340 may be connected to the power supply unit 330 to discharge the power supplied from the power supply unit 330 to a high voltage.

The ion generating device 340 includes a circuit (not shown) for generating a high voltage through a power source applied from the power supply unit, and a circuit (not shown) for ionizing molecules in the air through a high- One or more electrodes 342 and a wire 341 connecting the electrode 342 and the circuit (not shown). In detail, the electric wire 341 may be connected to the power supply unit 330 and may be connected to a circuit disposed inside the power supply unit 330.

Accordingly, when a high voltage is applied to the circuit (not shown) through the power generated from the power supply unit 330, the high voltage is discharged through the electrode 342, thereby ionizing molecules in the air.

The circuit (not shown) is a means for generating a high voltage so that the electrode 342 can discharge. The circuit (not shown) can generate a high-voltage alternating current, a positive electrode or a negative electrode direct current, a pulse direct current, and the like, and supply it to the electrode 342. In the present embodiment, the circuit (not shown) is a constant voltage circuit that generates negative electrode direct current. The circuit preferably outputs an output voltage of -7 kVp ± 8%, an output frequency of 100 Hz ± 10%, and a duty ratio of 15 to 25%. The circuit (not shown) includes a circuit board and various electronic components.

In addition, the circuit (not shown) may be disposed in the power supply unit 330. Accordingly, the electrode 342 and the electric wire 341 of the ion generating device 340 can generate ions while being connected to the power supply unit 330.

The electric wire 341 may connect the power supply unit 330 and the electrode 342. In detail, one end of the electric wire 341 is connected to a circuit (not shown) in the power supply part 330, and the other end is connected to the electrode 342, thereby preventing current leakage. The electric wire 341 may include a wire for transmitting a high voltage generated in the circuit (not shown) to the electrode, and a cover made of a plastic material to surround the wire. The electric wire 341 electrically connects the circuit (not shown) and the electrode 342.

The electrode 342 is a means for ionizing molecules in the air through discharge. In detail, when a high voltage generated in the circuit (not shown) is applied to the electrode 342 through the electric wire 341, the electrode 342 is discharged, and molecules in the air are ionized to generate ions. When a high voltage is applied to the electrode 342, the molecules in the air are ionized into anions such as OH- and O- or cations such as H +.

The electrode 342 may include a carbon fiber. In detail, the electrode 342 may be made of ultra fine carbon fibers and may generate ions by a corona discharge. For example, the electrode 342 is preferably a brush in which hundreds of extra fine carbon fibers having a diameter in the micrometer range are bundled with the electric wire 341. In the present embodiment, the electrode 342 is in the form of a brush having about 1000 carbon fibers each having a diameter of 7 mu m.

In the brush-shaped electrode 342, which is a bundle of carbon fibers, only one of hundreds of carbon fibers can be discharged, and in this case, the discharge effect can be increased by the remaining carbon fibers. According to an embodiment, the electrode 342 may be formed into a needle shape or a network having a pattern.

In addition, the electrode 342 may be arranged so that a plurality of the electrodes 342 are spaced apart from each other. In detail, the electrodes 342 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the electric wires 341 and protrude in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the electric wires 314.

The ions generated by the electrode 342 can charge foreign substances in the air. In detail, the negative ions can charge electrons to the negative electrode by providing electrons to the negative ions, and the positive ions can attract electrons from the negative ions to charge the negative electrode to the positive electrode. So that foreign matter such as dust in the air can be collected in the plurality of filter films.

The base panel 200 will be described in detail.

A wire guide groove 231 may be formed in the coupling surface of the base panel 200 to be coupled to the main body 100 to receive the wire 341 of the ion generator 340. In detail, the coupling surface of the base panel 200 is formed with the electric wire guide groove 231 along the periphery of the suction grille 210, so that the electric wire 341 can be received.

In this case, when a plurality of fixing protrusions 232 are disposed at predetermined intervals along the wire guide groove 231 so that the wire 341 is accommodated in the wire guide groove 231, the wire 341 Can be fixed. That is, the electric wire 341 of the ion generating device 340 is fixed by the plurality of fixing protrusions 232 in a state of being accommodated in the electric wire guide groove 231, Lt; / RTI >

In addition, an electrode fixing portion 233 to which the electrode 341 of the ion generating device 340 can be fixed may be disposed on one side of the coupling surface of the base panel 200. The electrode fixing portion 233 includes a protruding rib 233a protruding from the wire guide groove 231 toward the suction grill 220 and a protruding rib 233b formed on the protruding rib 233a, And a fixing opening 233b to be inserted and fixed.

Therefore, when the electric wire 342 is received in the electric wire guide groove 231 and the electrode 341 is inserted into the fixed opening 233b of the electrode fixing portion 233, 220). ≪ / RTI >

Accordingly, the air introduced into the suction grill 210 is ionized by the high voltage generated from the ion generating device 340, and foreign substances in the air are charged by the ionized air to effectively collect dust in the filter assembly 300 .

A switch unit 240, which can be inserted into the power connection unit 140 of the main body 100, may be disposed on one side of the base panel 200.

In detail, when the base panel 200 covers the bottom surface of the main body 100, the switch unit 240 is inserted into the power connection unit 140 and presses a button formed on the power connection unit 140, Accordingly, when the button of the power connection unit 140 is pressed, the power supply unit 330 supplies power to the filter assembly 300 and the ion generator 340.

Conversely, when the base panel 200 opens the lower surface of the main body 100, the switch unit 240 is separated from the power connection unit 140, so that the button formed in the power connection unit 140 The power supply to the power supply unit 330 connected to the filter assembly 300 may be cut off.

As a result, when the user rotates the base panel 200 to open or close the main body 100 for replacement or repair of the filter assembly 300, the filter assembly 300 and the ion generator 340 ) Is cut off and the safety is ensured.

In addition, when the number of the electrodes 342 of the ion generating device 340 is three, the dust collecting efficiency of the dust collecting filter assembly 300 can be maximized.

7 is a graph showing changes in ion concentration on the inlet side according to the number of electrodes of the ion generating device of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the number of the electrodes 342 is three or more than one or two, the ion concentration on the side of the inlet 110 gradually increases.

This is because only a part of the air introduced through the suction grill 110 is ionized when the number of the electrodes 342 is one or two so that the ion concentration of the air is substantially equal to the number of the electrodes 342 Compared with that of the control group.

Also, when the number of the electrodes 342 is four, it can be confirmed that the ion concentration is lower than when the number of the electrodes 342 is three.

This is because when the number of the electrodes 342 is four, the high voltage is superimposed on the air passing through the suction grill 110 by the four electrodes 342, ) Than the number of three.

That is, it is confirmed that the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention has the best dust collecting efficiency of the dust collecting filter assembly 300 when the number of electrodes disposed in the ion generating device is three.

Claims (8)

A main body including a suction port through which air is sucked on one surface and a discharge port through which the sucked air is heat-exchanged;
A filter assembly disposed at the suction port for filtering air to be sucked;
A base panel which forms an intake grill and a discharge portion and covers the one surface of the main body; And
And an ion generating device for generating ions by ionizing molecules in the air sucked into the filter assembly by discharging air by applying a high voltage to one surface of the base panel.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a power supply for supplying power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device.
3. The method of claim 2,
The ion generating device comprises:
At least one electrode for emitting a high voltage when power is supplied from the power supply unit; And
And an electric wire connecting the power supply unit and the electrode.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the electrode includes three electrodes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the electric wire,
Wherein the electric wires are arranged such that the electrodes are spaced apart at regular intervals along one side of the suction port.
The method of claim 3,
The base panel includes:
And an electrode fixing part which is arranged to be spaced apart at a predetermined interval on one surface and to which the electrode is fixed,
The electrode-
A protruding rib protruding in the suction grill direction; And
And a fixing opening that is disposed in the protruding rib and into which the electrode is inserted and fixed.
6. The method of claim 5,
The base panel includes:
A wire guide groove for guiding the electric wire connected from the power supply unit; And
And a fixing protrusion protruded to fix the electric wire in the electric wire guide groove.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the main body includes a power connection part which is disposed on one surface of the main body and selectively applies power applied from the power supply part to the filter assembly and the ion generating device,
Wherein the base panel includes a switch unit selectively connected to the power connection unit.
8. The method of claim 7,
When the base panel covers the one side of the main body, the switch part is connected to the power connection part, the power supply part supplies power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device,
Wherein the power supply connection part is spaced apart from the switch part so that the power supply part does not apply power to the filter assembly and the ion generating device if the base panel does not cover the one surface of the main body. Indoor unit.

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