The present invention relates to a heat exchange unit and an air-conditioning apparatus.
There have been air-conditioning apparatuses that include on-site connection pipes provided on one end of a heat exchanger for connecting heat transfer pipes to external components (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The air-conditioning apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is configured to be capable of changing the position for connecting the on-site connection pipes.
In general, it is desirable that a body defining an outer shell of an air-conditioning apparatus be capable of being installed in various orientations depending on the structure of the building in which the air-conditioning apparatus is to be installed. This requires the heat exchanger, drain pan, and other members (hereinafter, “heat exchange unit”) provided inside the body to have a flexible structure to accommodate to different installation states of the body. That is, the heat exchange unit should be of a structure that is capable of receiving condensation water, which may form in the heat exchanger, even when an installation state of the body is changed. The heat exchange unit should also be of a structure that does not impair maintainability even when the installation state of the body is changed. The heat exchange unit should also be of a structure that can be easily changed even when the installation state of the body is changed. However, there is a problem in that the heat exchange units do not have a flexible structure that accommodates to the different installation states of the body.
The present invention has been developed against the above background to provide a heat exchange unit and an air-conditioning apparatus that reduce the possibility of impairing drainage regardless of an installation state thereof.
A heat exchange unit of one embodiment of the present invention includes a heat exchanger and a drain pan detachable to the heat exchanger, the drain pan including a first drain pan having a flat shape and installed on a first imaginary plane and a second drain pan having a flat shape and installed on a second imaginary plane having a different angle with respect to the first imaginary plane, wherein the first drain pan is provided below the heat exchanger.
An air-conditioning apparatus of one embodiment of the present invention includes the heat exchange unit of one embodiment of the present invention, an air blower unit, and a body in which the heat exchange unit and the air blower unit are housed.
According to the present invention, the drain pan includes the first drain pan having a flat shape and installed on the first imaginary plane and the second drain pan having a flat shape and installed on the second imaginary plane having a different angle with respect to the first imaginary plane, and the first drain pan is provided below the heat exchanger. Thus, the heat exchange unit is capable of receiving condensation water, which forms in the heat exchanger, even when the installation state of the body is changed with the heat exchange unit provided inside the body. The possibility of impairing drainage is accordingly reduced.
An air-conditioning apparatus 100 (indoor unit) of one embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the dimensional relationships between each of the components may be different from actual relationships. Additionally, in the drawings and throughout the entire specification, similar reference characters are used to refer to the same or equivalent parts. Further, the form of the components presented throughout this entire specification is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting.
As shown in
An inside of the body 1 is divided into a plurality of areas. For example, a first area 10, a second area 20, and a third area 30 are formed inside the body 1 in order from the bottom to the top of the body 1. The first area 10, the second area 20, and the third area 30 will be described in detail with reference to
At least one of the side surfaces of the body 1 is configured as the detachable side surface panel 1a. The side surface panel 1a is for covering an outlet (not shown) provided on the body 1. A first vent 1A is provided on a lower surface of the body 1 and a second vent 1B is provided on an upper surface of the body 1. That is, opposed surfaces of the body 1 are open. The first vent 1A and the second vent 1B are openings for allowing air in a room or air inside the body 1 to pass therethrough. The side surface panel 1a may define only one of the side surfaces of the body 1 or may define a plurality of the side surfaces of the body 1. Maintainability can be improved by the side surface panel 1a defining a plurality of the side surfaces of the body 1.
The first vent 1A is the opening for directing the air in the room into the body 1. The second vent 1B is the opening for directing the air directed into the body 1 out of the body 1. In Embodiment 1, the body 1 is installed in an air-conditioned space such that a bottom surface of the body 1 is the installation surface, and an upward flow structure is achieved in which the air flows from the first vent 1A toward the second vent 1B.
As shown in
The air blower unit 11 is an air blower unit that is provided to direct the air in the room sequentially to the heat exchange unit 21 and the control box 31. The heat exchange unit 21 will be discussed later. The control box 31 is, for example, a member for housing a control board (not shown) that controls the air blower unit 11.
The heat exchanger 22 is a heat exchanger having heat exchangers 22a, 22b and serves as an evaporator during cooling operations and serves as a condenser during heating operations. The heat exchanger 22 is, for example, substantially V-shaped with the heat exchangers 22a, 22b abutting on each other at upper ends thereof and configured to become more away from each other downwardly from the upper ends at the same tilt angle.
The drain pan 23 is a member for receiving condensation water formed in the heat exchanger 22 and is configured, for example, in an L-shape. The drain pan 23 is detachable to the heat exchanger 22 and is used, for example, by being attached to the heat exchanger 22. The drain pan 23 has a first drain pan 24 and a second drain pan 25. The arm portion 26 is for attaching the heat exchanger 22 to the drain pan 23.
As shown in
The first drain pan 24 is provided below the heat exchanger 22 and is a substantially rectangular flat member having an opening 24A and a receiving portion 24B. The first drain pan 24 is symmetrically shaped relative to at least either of an imaginary reference line L11 extending in a longitudinal direction of the first drain pan 24 and passing through a lateral center of the first drain pan 24 and an imaginary reference line L12 extending in a longitudinal direction of the first drain pan 24 and passing through a longitudinal center of the first drain pan 24. The opening 24A is an opening for directing the air in the room that has been directed into the body 1 to the second area 20, and is, for example, substantially rectangular. The receiving portion 24B is, for example, a portion that receives the condensation water formed by heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 and is, for example, provided on both sides of the opening 24A. One of the receiving portions 24B receives the condensation water formed in the heat exchanger 22a and the other of the receiving portions 24B receives the condensation water formed in the heat exchanger 22b.
The second drain pan 25 is provided on a side of the heat exchanger 22 and is a substantially rectangular flat member having a receiving portion 25A and a rising part 25B. The second drain pan 25 is symmetrically shaped relative to at least either of an imaginary reference line L21 extending in a longitudinal direction of the second drain pan 25 and passing through a lateral center of the second drain pan 25 and an imaginary reference line L22 extending in a longitudinal direction of the second drain pan 25 and passing through a longitudinal center of the second drain pan 25. The receiving portion 25A is provided with projections 25a1, 25a2. The projections 25a1, 25a2 project in a direction perpendicular to a direction of air flow. The rising part 25B is, for example, a portion that rises perpendicular to the receiving portion 25A from a perimeter of the receiving portion 25A.
The heat exchange unit 21 is provided such that the opening 24A of the first drain pan 24 is parallel with the opening of the first vent 1A and the opening of the second vent 1B. Additionally, the heat exchange unit 21 is provided such that an outer surface of the receiving portion 25A opposes any one of the side surfaces of the body 1. The side surface panel 1a thus defines the side surface of the body 1 other than the side surface opposing the outer surface of the receiving portion 25A, to facilitate the ease with which the heat exchange unit 21 may be removed.
As shown in
As shown in
Air flow and heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 will now be described.
When the air blower unit 11 rotates, the air in the room is directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100. The air directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100 sequentially passes through the air blower unit 11, the heat exchange unit 21, and the control box 31, and is directed into the room. While the air blower unit 11 is rotating, heat is exchanged in the heat exchanger 22. Specifically, for example, in a cooling operation, refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat with the air that passes through the heat exchanger 22, whereby the refrigerant is heated and the temperature of the refrigerant is increased. That is, in the cooling operation, the air that passes through the heat exchanger 22 exchanges heat with the refrigerant that flows through the heat exchanger 22, whereby the air is cooled and the temperature of the air is reduced. This can cause condensation water to form on a surface of the heat exchanger 22. The condensation water formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 22 drops onto the first drain pan 24 and is collected in the receiving portions 24B.
As shown in
As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the heat exchanger 22 and the drain pan 23 detachable to the heat exchanger 22, the drain pan 23 including the first drain pan 24 having a flat shape and installed on the first imaginary plane and the second drain pan 25 having a flat shape and installed on the second imaginary plane having an angle with respect to the first imaginary plane, wherein the first drain pan 24 is provided below the heat exchanger 22.
Consequently, the heat exchange unit 21 can receive the condensation water, which forms in the heat exchanger 22, even when the installation state of the body 1 is changed with the heat exchange unit 21 provided inside the body 1. The possibility of impairing drainage can thus be reduced.
The third area 30 in which the control box 31 is provided is positioned downstream in the airflow of the second area 20 in which the heat exchange unit 21 is provided. Thus, in the cooling operation, the refrigerant that flows through the heat exchanger 22 provided in the second area 20 receives heat, whereby the air directed into the body 1 is cooled, and the cooled air can cool the control box 31 provided in the third area 30.
In Embodiment 1, an example has been described, without limitation thereto, in which the first area 10, the second area 20, and the third area 30 are formed in order from the bottom to the top of the body 1. For instance, the second area 20, the first area 10, and the third area 30 may be sequentially formed from the bottom to the top of the body 1.
In Embodiment 1, an example has also been described, without limitation thereto, in which only the first area 10, the second area 20, and the third area 30 are formed inside the body 1. For instance, areas in which other members necessary to operate the air-conditioning apparatus 100 are disposed may be additionally provided inside the body 1.
In Embodiment 1, an example has also been described, without limitation thereto, in which the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is operated with the second drain pan 25 attached to the first drain pan 24. For instance, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 may be operated with the first drain pan 24 and the second drain pan 25 separated. In this case, for example, it is only required that the first drain pan 24 is attached to the heat exchanger 22 and the second drain pan 25 is attached to the heat exchanger 22.
In Embodiment 2, unlike Embodiment 1, the body 1 is installed such that a top surface of the body 1 is the installation surface, and a downward flow structure is achieved in which air flows from the first vent 1A to the second vent 1B. In Embodiment 2, items that are not described in particular are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same reference characters are used to refer to the same functions and configurations.
As shown in
For the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2, for example, the heat exchange unit 21 is taken out from the second area 20 of the body 1 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 with an upward flow structure as shown in
The air flow and heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 will now be described.
When the air blower unit 11 rotates, the air in the room is directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100. The air directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100 sequentially passes through the air blower unit 11, the heat exchange unit 21, and the control box 31, and is directed into the room. As described above, when condensation water forms on the surface of the heat exchanger 22, the condensation water formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 22 drops onto the first drain pan 24 and is collected in the receiving portions 24B.
In Embodiment 3, unlike Embodiment 1, the body 1 is installed such that the right side surface of the body 1 is the installation surface, and a rightward flow structure is achieved in which air flows from the first vent 1A to the second vent 1B. In Embodiment 3, items that are not described in particular are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same reference characters are used to refer to the same functions and configurations.
As shown in
For the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3, for example, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 with the upward flow structure as shown in
The air flow and heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 will now be described.
When the air blower unit 11 rotates, the air in the room is directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100. The air directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100 sequentially passes through the air blower unit 11, the heat exchange unit 21, and the control box 31, and is directed into the room. As described above, when condensation water forms on the surface of the heat exchanger 22, the condensation water formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 22 drops onto the second drain pan 25 and is collected in the receiving portion 25A.
In Embodiment 4, unlike Embodiment 1, the body 1 is installed such that the left side surface of the body 1 is the installation surface, and a leftward flow structure is achieved in which air flows from the first vent 1A to the second vent 1B. In Embodiment 4, items that are not described in particular are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and the same reference characters are used to refer to the same functions and configurations.
As shown in
An assembly procedure of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 will now be described.
First, the heat exchange unit 21 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 with the upward flow structure as shown in
The air flow and heat exchange in the heat exchanger 22 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 will now be described.
When the air blower unit 11 rotates, the air in the room is directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100. The air directed into the air-conditioning apparatus 100 sequentially passes through the air blower unit 11, the heat exchange unit 21, and the control box 31, and is directed into the room. As described above, when condensation water forms on the surface of the heat exchanger 22, the condensation water formed on the surface of the heat exchanger 22 drops onto the second drain pan 25 and is collected in the receiving portion 25A.
As described above, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 of Embodiments 1 to 4, the heat exchange unit 21 can receive the condensation water formed in the heat exchanger 22 whether the installation state of the body 1 has an upward flow, downward flow, rightward flow, or leftward flow.
In addition, forming the heat exchanger 22, the first drain pan 24, and the second drain pan 25 as one heat exchange unit 21 enables the heat exchange unit 21 to be taken out easily when changing the installation state of the body 1 or when performing maintenance of the air-conditioning apparatus 100.
An example of an opening 24A being provided on the first drain pan 24 has been described without limitation thereto. For instance, it is only required that an opening is provided on at least one of the first drain pan 24 and the second drain pan 25.
In the description above, an example has been described, without limitation thereto, in which the heat exchanger 22 is provided inside the body 1 in a state as shown in
This application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/JP2014/063627 filed on May 22, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2014/063627 | 5/22/2014 | WO | 00 |