Patent Application
20240369237
This application claims priority to Chinese patent applications Nos. 202111016612.6 and 202122086936.9, filed by Guangdong Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd. on Aug. 31, 2021, both titled “ELECTRIC CONTROL BOX OF AIR CONDITIONER AND AIR CONDITIONER.”
The present disclosure relates to the field of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an electric control box of an air conditioner and an air conditioner having the electric control box.
In the related art, an electric control box of an air conditioner is provided with a heat dissipation device therein. The heat dissipation device is configured to cool a component, such as a circuit board, a capacitor, a terminal, in the electric control box. However, heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device mainly relies on hot air passing through a condenser to realize cooling and heat dissipation. As a result, the heat dissipation device cannot reliably cool the component in the electric control box, resulting in a relatively short service life of the component in the electric control box. In addition, the component cannot be reduced in size, leading to a relatively high manufacturing cost of the component.
The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems in the related art. Embodiments of the present disclosure are to provide an electric control box of an air conditioner. The electric control box of the air conditioner can allow a heat dissipation device to reliably cool a component in the electric control box to keep a temperature of the component in the electric control box to be always within an appropriate operation temperature range, thereby prolonging a service life of the component. In addition, the component can be reduced in size to lower a manufacturing cost of the component.
Embodiments of the present disclosure further provide an air conditioner.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an electric control box of an air conditioner includes a heat dissipation device and a support base at which the heat dissipation device is mounted. The support base aids to form a plurality of heat dissipation flow channels sequentially arranged in a height direction of the electric control box, and air outlets of at least two of the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels correspond to the heat dissipation device.
With the electric control box of the air conditioner according to the present disclosure, the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels are formed with the aids of the support base of the electric control box. When a fan blade of the air conditioner rotates, a high-speed negative pressure region is formed between the heat dissipation device and the fan blade, which may allow air within the air conditioner to flow through the heat dissipation device through the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels to cool and dissipate heat from the heat dissipation device. Therefore, the heat dissipation device can reliably cool the component in the electric control box to keep the temperature of the component in the electric control box to be always within the appropriate operation temperature range, thereby prolonging the service life of the component. In addition, the component can be reduced in size to lower the manufacturing cost of the component.
In some examples of the present disclosure, the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels include a first flow channel and a second flow channel. The first flow channel is located below the second flow channel.
In some examples of present disclosure, each of the first flow channel and the second flow channel extends obliquely upwards towards the heat dissipation device in a down-to-up direction of the electric control box.
In some examples of present disclosure, in a height direction of the first flow channel, a spacing between a lowest part of the first flow channel and an inner surface of the first flow channel opposite to the lowest part of the first flow channel is K1, and a height of the heat dissipation device is H, where 0.2H≤K1.
In some examples of present disclosure, the second flow channel is constructed as a variable cross-section flow channel. A minimum spacing between a lower surface of the second flow channel and an upper surface of the second flow channel in a height direction of the second flow channel is K2, where 0.2H≤K2.
In some examples of present disclosure, the support base includes a rain shield disposed at a side of the heat dissipation device. A spacing between the rain shield and the heat dissipation device is m, where 0.5 (K1+K2)≤m.
In some examples of present disclosure, a main flow channel is formed with the aids of the support base. A partition is disposed in the main flow channel and divides the main flow channel into the first flow channel and the second flow channel.
In some examples of present disclosure, in the height direction of the electric control box, a projection of a lowest part of an upper surface of the second flow channel is located at a side of a projection of a lowest part of the partition close to the heat dissipation device.
In some examples of present disclosure, in the height direction of the electric control box, a highest part of the partition is located above a lowest part of an upper surface of the second flow channel.
In some examples of present disclosure, in the height direction of the electric control box, a spacing between a highest part of the partition and the heat dissipation device is Hn, and a height of the heat dissipation device is H, where 0.4H≤Hn≤0.6H.
In some examples of present disclosure, an air outlet and an air inlet are formed at two ends of the first flow channel in an extending direction of the first flow channel, respectively. A sectional area of the first flow channel gradually increases in a direction from the air inlet to the air outlet of the first flow channel.
In some examples of present disclosure, an air outlet and an air inlet are formed at two ends of the second flow channel in an extending direction of the second flow channel, respectively. A sectional area of the second flow channel gradually decreases and then gradually increases in a direction from the air inlet to the air outlet of the second flow channel.
According to the present disclosure, an air conditioner includes the above-mentioned electric control box of the air conditioner.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be provided at least in part in the following description, or will become apparent at least in part from the following description, or can be learned from practicing of the present disclosure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to examples thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which same or similar elements, or elements having same or similar functions, are denoted by same or similar reference numerals. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative only, and are intended to explain, rather than limit, the present disclosure.
An electric control box 200 of an air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to
As illustrated in
The heat dissipation device 10 is disposed at the support base 20. The support base 20 may aid to form a plurality of heat dissipation flow channels 21 sequentially arranged in a height direction of the electric control box 200 (i.e., an up-down direction illustrated in
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the electric control box 200 may be disposed at an outdoor unit of the air conditioner 100. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the electric control box 200 may also be disposed at an indoor unit of the air conditioner 100. For an integrated air conditioner 100, the electric control box 200 may also be disposed in the integrated air conditioner 100. As an example, the present disclosure describes that the electric control box 200 is disposed at the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 100. However, the electric control box 200 of the present disclosure is not limited to being disposed in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 100.
It should be understood that, as illustrated in
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in a height direction of the air conditioner 100 (i.e., the up-down direction illustrated in
A Component 60 may be provided within the electric control box 200. The component 60 may include components such as a circuit board 61, a terminal (not illustrated), and a capacitor (not illustrated). In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in the height direction of the air conditioner 100 (i.e., an up-down direction illustrated in
In the related art, through-air-type heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device mainly relies on hot air passing through a condenser for cooling and heat dissipation. As a result, the heat dissipation device cannot reliably cool the component in the electric control box, resulting in a relatively short service life of the component in the electric control box. In addition, the component cannot be reduced in size, leading to a relatively high manufacturing cost of the component.
In the present disclosure, however, it should be understood that, as illustrated in
Therefore, by forming the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels 21 with the aids of the support base 20 of the electric control box 200, when the fan blade 40 of the air conditioner 100 rotates, the high-speed negative pressure region 70 is formed between the heat dissipation device 10 and the fan blade 40, to allow air in the air conditioner 100 to flow through the heat dissipation device 10 through the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels 21 to cool and dissipate heat from the heat dissipation device 10. Therefore, the heat dissipation device 10 can reliably cool the component 60 in the electric control box 200 to keep a temperature of the component 60 in the electric control box 200 to be always within an appropriate operation temperature range, thereby prolonging the service life of the component 60. In addition, the size of the component 60 can be reduced to lower the manufacturing cost of the component 60.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the support base 20 may be an integrated piece, or the support base 20 may be formed by connecting a plurality of parts through welding, engagement, or screwing. The present disclosure is not limited in this regard.
As illustrated in
When the fan blade 40 rotates at a high speed, the high-speed negative pressure region 70 is formed between the fan blade 40 and the heat dissipation device 10 based on Bernoulli's principle. Under the traction of the high-speed negative pressure region 70, air in the compressor side 37 may flow into the first flow channel 22 through the air inlet 26 of the first flow channel 22, to allow first-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 to be carried out by means of the air to flow through the heat dissipation device 10. In addition, under the traction of the high-speed negative pressure region 70, air in the electric control side 38 may flow into the second flow channel 23 through the air inlet 26 of the second flow channel 23, to allow second-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 to be carried out by means of the air to flow through the heat dissipation device 10.
It should be understood that the first-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 is mainly to dissipate heat from a lower part of the heat dissipation device 10, and the second-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 is mainly to dissipate heat from an upper part of the heat dissipation device 10.
Therefore, multi-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 can be carried out, thereby realizing rapid cooling and heat dissipation for the heat dissipation device 10. In this way, the heat dissipation device 10 can reliably cool the component 60 in the electric control box 200. In addition, by forming the first flow channel 22 below the second flow channel 23, it is possible to prevent air in the first flow channel 22 and air in the second flow channel 23 from interfering with each other, allowing the air to rapidly pass through the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23 to cool and dissipate heat from the heat dissipation device 10.
It should be understood that when flowing into the second flow channel 23 through the air inlet 26 of the second flow channel 23, the air in the electric control side 38 can cool and dissipate heat from the components disposed above the second support plate 25 such as the terminal and the capacitor. Then, the air in the electric control side 38 can flow through the heat dissipation device 10 to allow for the second-stage cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10. In this way, temperatures of the components such as the terminal and the capacitor disposed above the second support plate 25 can be prevented from being too high, thereby ensuring use reliability and prolonging service lives of the components such as the terminal and the capacitor.
It should be emphasized that cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 of the present disclosure can be carried out by means of the hot air passing through the condenser. In other words, the cooling and heat dissipation of the heat dissipation device 10 of the present disclosure can be carried out by means of the hot air passing through the condenser and by means of the air at the side of the heat dissipation device 10 away from the fan blade 40 flowing towards the high-speed negative pressure region 70 under the traction of the high-speed negative pressure region 70. Therefore, rapid cooling and heat dissipation for the heat dissipation device 10 can be realized.
As some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be understood that if K1 is too small, a throttling phenomenon occurs in the first flow channel 22, reducing a flowing efficiency of the air in the first flow channel 22, thereby affecting the air inflowing volume of the first flow channel 22. By setting K1 and H to satisfy a relationship of 0.2H≤K1, K1 can have a reasonable value range to avoid the throttling phenomenon in the first flow channel 22, which is conducive to improving the flowing efficiency of the air in the first flow channel 22, thereby allowing the first flow channel 22 to have a relatively high air inflowing volume. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, K1 is also limited by an actual structural space. In other words, K1 cannot be infinitely enlarged.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be understood that if K2 is too small, a throttling phenomenon occurs in the second flow channel 23, reducing flowing efficiency of the air in the second flow channel 23, thereby affecting the air inflowing volume of the second flow channel 23. By setting K2 and H to satisfy a relationship of 0.2H≤K2, K2 can have a reasonable value range to avoid the throttling phenomenon in the second flow channel 23, which is conducive to improving the flowing efficiency of the air in the first flow channel 22, thereby allowing the second flow channel 23 to have a relatively high air inflowing volume. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, K2 is also limited by an actual structural space. In other words, K2 cannot be infinitely enlarged. In addition, constructing the second flow channel 23 as the variable cross-section flow channel can avoid local air backflow and improve air circulation efficiency.
Further, by constructing K1 and H in the form satisfying the relationship of 0.2H≤K1, and by constructing K2 and H in the form satisfying the relationship of 0.2H≤K2, the air inflowing volumes of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23 can be ensured to satisfy a heat dissipation demand of the heat dissipation device 10 under an operation condition of minimum throttling.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be understood that the rain shield 28 is configured to block a liquid (e.g. rainwater) to prevent the liquid from entering an interior of the electric control box 200. By arranging the rain shield 28, a risk of the liquid flowing into the interior of the electric control box 200 can be reduced, which is conducive to ensuring use safety of the component 60 in the electric control box 200.
In addition, it should be noted that with an increase in the spacing between the rain shield 28 and the heat dissipation device 10, a heat dissipation and cooling effect for the heat dissipation device 10 becomes better. In addition, if a value of m is too small compared with a value of K1 and a value of K2, a pressure imbalance occurs at the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 27 of each of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23, affecting the air inflowing volumes of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23, which in turn affects the flowing efficiency of the air in each of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23.
Therefore, by setting m, K1, and K2 to satisfy the relationship of 0.5 (K1+K2)≤m, m, K1, and K2 can have reasonable values to avoid the pressure imbalance at the air inlet 26 and the air outlet 27 of each of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23. In this way, the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23 have relatively high air inflowing volumes, thereby realizing a relatively high flowing efficiency of the air in each of the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23. Therefore, the heat dissipation demand of the heat dissipation device 10 can be satisfied.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be understood that a vertical distance between the first end of the first support plate 24 and the partition 29 is the spacing between the lowest part of the first flow channel 22 and the inner surface of the first flow channel 22 opposite to the lowest part of the first flow channel 22.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be noted that a gap 719 is formed between the partition 29 and the second support plate 25. When the liquid (such as rainwater) splashes towards the heat dissipation device 10 from a right side of the heat dissipation device 10, the liquid merges at an outer wall surface of the second flow channel 23. Further, under an action of gravity, the liquid drops to a surface of the partition 29 from the outer wall surface of the second flow channel 23. The liquid dropped onto the surface of the partition 29 may drop between the partition 29 and the second support plate 25 under the action of gravity. Since the gap 71 is formed between the partition 29 and the second support plate 25, the liquid dropped from the surface of the partition 29 can leave the electric control box 200 through the gap 71. In this way, the risk of the liquid flowing into the interior of the electric control box 200 can be further reduced, which is conducive to ensuring the use safety of the component 60 in the electric control box 200.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be understood that the spacing between the highest part of the partition 29 and the heat dissipation device 10 represents a flow distribution between the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23. Too large or too small the spacing between the highest part of the partition 29 and the heat dissipation device 10 results in too low air inflowing volume of the first flow channel 22 or of the second flow channel 23.
For example, if the spacing between the highest part of the partition 29 and the heat dissipation device 10 is too small, the air inflowing volume of the first flow channel 22 is too low, resulting in unsatisfactory first-stage cooling and heat dissipation for the heat dissipation device 10 (i.e., unsatisfactory cooling and heat dissipation for the lower part of the heat dissipation device 10). If the spacing between the highest part of the partition 29 and the heat dissipation device 10 is too large, the air inflowing volume of the second flow channel 23 is too low, resulting in unsatisfactory second-stage cooling and heat dissipation for the heat dissipation device 10 (i.e., unsatisfactory cooling and heat dissipation for the upper part of the heat dissipation device 10).
By setting Hn and H to satisfy the relationship of 0.4H≤Hn≤0.6H, Hn may have a reasonable value range, and thus the flow distribution between the first flow channel 22 and the second flow channel 23 is reasonable. In this way, satisfactory cooling and heat dissipation can be realized for both the lower part and the upper part of the heat dissipation device 10.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be explained that, in the direction from the air inlet 26 of the first flow channel 22 to the air outlet 27 of the first flow channel 22, by setting the sectional area of the first flow channel 22 to gradually increase, the air inflowing volume of the first flow channel 22 can be increased. Thus, a relatively large amount of air can pass through the lower part of the heat dissipation device 10, thereby realizing effective cooling and heat dissipation for the lower half of the heat dissipation device 10.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, as illustrated in
It should be explained that, in the direction from the air inlet 26 to the air outlet 27 of the second flow channel 23, the sectional area of the second flow channel 23 is set to gradually decrease and then gradually increase. Based on the Bernoulli's equation (i.e., the sum of a static pressure and dynamic pressure is constant), when air flows into the second flow channel 23 from the air inlet 26 of the second flow channel 23, the air is subjected to two stages. In the first stage, since the sectional area of the second flow channel 23 gradually decreases, the flow rate of the air increases (in which case the dynamic pressure of the air increases and the static pressure of the air decreases), to allow a relatively large amount of air to flow into the second flow channel 23.
In the second stage, since the sectional area of the second flow channel 23 gradually increases, the flow rate of the air decreases. In addition, the static pressure of the air increases. The increased static pressure can avoid local air backflow and improve an air circulation efficiency. Therefore, a sufficient heat exchange between the air and the upper half of the heat dissipation device 10 can be implemented to realize effective cooling and heat dissipation for the upper part of the heat dissipation device 10.
The air conditioner 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes the electric control box 200 of the air conditioner 100 as described in the above-mentioned embodiments. The plurality of heat dissipation flow channels 21 are formed with the aids of the support base 20 of the electric control box 200. When the fan blade 40 of the air conditioner 100 rotates, the high-speed negative pressure region 70 is formed between the heat dissipation device 10 and the fan blade 40, to allow air in the air conditioner 100 to flow through the heat dissipation device 10 through the plurality of heat dissipation flow channels 21 to cool and dissipate heat from the heat dissipation device 10. Therefore, the heat dissipation device 10 can reliably cool the component 60 in the electric control box 200 to keep a temperature of the component 60 in the electric control box 200 to be always within an appropriate operation temperature range, thereby prolonging the service life of the component 60. In addition, the size of the component 60 can be reduced to lower the manufacturing cost of the component 60.
In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that, the orientation or the position indicated by terms such as “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “over,” “below,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “anti-clockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential” should be construed to refer to the orientation and the position as shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the pointed device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present disclosure.
In the description of the present disclosure, “first feature” and “second feature” may include one or more of these features.
In the description of the present disclosure, “plurality” means two or more.
In the description of the present disclosure, the first feature “on” or “under” the second feature may mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through another feature between them.
In the description of the present disclosure, the first feature “above” the second feature means that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature.
Throughout this specification, description with reference to “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “an illustrative embodiment,” “an example,” “a specific example,” “some examples,” or the like means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. The appearances of the above phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Further, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described here may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.
Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is conceivable for those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, replacements, and variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure shall be defined by the claims as appended and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202111016612.6 | Aug 2021 | CN | national |
| 202122086936.9 | Aug 2021 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2021/119952 | 9/23/2021 | WO |
