JP5606419B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that performs heat exchange with air using a heat exchanger.

  A conventional air conditioner for air conditioning is composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit main body is formed with openings such as a suction port and a blow-out port. Indoor air is sucked from the suction port by a circulation fan built in the main body, and heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the air by a heat exchanger installed in the main body. The heat-exchanged air is supplied as air that is cooled or heated to each room through a duct connected to the air outlet.

  In this type of air conditioner, a drain pan is provided below the heat exchanger in order to collect condensed water (drain water) generated in the heat exchanger during cooling. As for the structure of the drain pan, a box-shaped one that only receives drain water, and a structure in which a projection is provided on the drain pan and brought into contact with the bottom surface of the heat exchanger to form an air passage to form an air passage. Some drain pans that are brought into contact with the bottom surface of the heat exchanger have a structure in which drain water is collected and drained by a pump or a hose (see Patent Document 1).

Microfilm of Japanese Utility Model No. 59-101148 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 61-15420)

  However, when the protrusion provided on the drain pan and the bottom surface of the heat exchanger are brought into contact with each other, passage of air from the bottom surface to the heat exchanger is hindered, which may hinder improvement in heat exchange efficiency.

  This invention is made in view of the above, Comprising: Obtaining the air conditioner which can aim at the improvement of heat exchange efficiency by enabling passage of the air from the bottom face to a heat exchanger. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention includes a main body in which an air inlet and an air outlet are formed, and an air passage that leads from the air inlet to the air outlet is provided inside the main body. A circulation fan that is accommodated and flows air from the suction port toward the blowout port, heat exchange with the air that is disposed in the air passage and passes through the air passage, and exhibits a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, A drain pan that is provided below the heat exchanger and collects drain water. The bottom surface of the heat exchanger has a short side that is substantially parallel to the air passage direction, and is substantially in the air passage direction. The drain pan has a rectangular shape with long sides, and the drain pan is formed with a support portion that supports the bottom surface of the heat exchanger along the long side on the downstream side in the air passage direction to support heat exchange. The area upstream of the support on the bottom of the vessel Characterized in that it is a possible area.

  According to the present invention, the support portion that is in surface contact with and supported by the bottom surface of the heat exchanger along the long side on the downstream side in the air passage direction is formed, and the upstream side of the support portion on the bottom surface of the heat exchanger. The region that becomes is the region through which air can pass. Further, the drain water is transmitted through the heat exchanger and is collected in the drain pan from the upstream side of the bottom surface of the heat exchanger, so that the drainage performance can be improved. Furthermore, there is an effect that the heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the heat exchanger as seen from the bottom side. FIG. 3-2 is a diagram for explaining passage of drain water. FIG. 3-3 is an external perspective view of the drain pan. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the drain pan in a state where the heat exchanger is supported. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the arrow A shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the groove portion. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan in a state where the heat exchanger is supported. FIG. 8 is a view for illustrating another arrangement example of the heat transfer tubes, and is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan in a state in which the heat exchanger is supported. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan in a state in which the heat exchanger is supported, and is a view for explaining the passage of air from the bottom surface. FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a drain pan as a comparative example supports a heat exchanger. FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal configuration of the air conditioner. FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view in which the wall portion of the drain pan is enlarged. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view in which the wall portion of the drain pan is enlarged. FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of a drain pan as a modification. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of a groove portion of a drain pan as a modified example.

  Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an internal configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner includes an air conditioner unit 1 as an indoor unit and an outdoor unit (not shown).

  An air conditioner unit 1 as an indoor unit is configured by housing a heat exchanger 2, a blower (circulation fan) 3, a sensor unit 5, a filter 7, a drain pan 9 and the like inside a main body 1a. An air suction port (suction port) 6 is formed below the main body 1 a, and an air outlet (blower port) 8 is formed at a position above the air suction port 6.

  Inside the main body 1a, an air passage 1b connected from the air inlet 6 to the air outlet 8 is formed. Due to the positional relationship between the air inlet 6 and the air outlet 8, the air passage 1b is formed so as to extend vertically in the main body 1a. The heat exchanger 2, the blower 3, the sensor unit 5, and the filter 7 are disposed inside the air passage 1b.

  The blower 3 is disposed above the heat exchanger 2. The blower 3 causes air to flow from the air inlet 6 toward the air outlet 8 during driving. As the blower 3, for example, a multiblade fan is used. When the blower 3 is driven, air outside the main body, for example, room air, is taken in from the air suction port 6, passes through the air passage 1 b, and is blown out from the air outlet 8. A duct 4 is connected to the air outlet 8, and the blown air is conveyed through the duct 4. For example, the air is distributed to a plurality of rooms.

  The heat exchanger 2 includes fins 2a, side plates 2b, and heat transfer tubes 2c. The heat exchanger 2 is disposed in the air passage 1b, and air can pass from the upstream surface (inflow surface 25) to the downstream surface (outflow surface 26) in the air passage 1b. ing. The heat exchanger 2 exchanges heat between the air passing through the heat exchanger 2 and the refrigerant flowing inside the heat transfer tube 2c.

  A plurality of heat transfer tubes 2c are provided so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the air passage direction in the air passage 1b. The plurality of heat transfer tubes 2c are provided in a staggered arrangement when observed from the side. The heat transfer tube 2c is arranged so as to be folded back on the side of the heat exchanger 2.

  In order to increase the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger 2, a plurality of fins 2a are provided so as to contact the heat transfer tube 2c and extend in a direction substantially parallel to the air passage direction. The side plate 2b is provided at a side portion of the heat exchanger 2, and fixes the heat transfer tubes 2c together.

  FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the heat exchanger 2 viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 3-2 is a diagram for explaining passage of drain water. In FIG. 3A, detailed configurations of the fins 2a and the heat transfer tubes 2c are omitted. As shown in FIG. 3A, if detailed configurations of the fins 2a and the heat transfer tubes 2c are ignored, the heat exchanger 2 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. The shape of the bottom surface 29 is a rectangular shape in which a side substantially parallel to the air passage direction is a short side 27 and a side substantially perpendicular to the air passage direction is a long side 28. In the air passage 1b, the heat exchanger 2 is disposed so as to be inclined so that the outflow surface 26 faces obliquely upward. Thereby, a contact part with the drain pan 9 of the heat exchanger 2 can be arrange | positioned diagonally. Normally, as shown in FIG. 3-2, the drain water flows downward through the fins 2a (see also FIG. 1) while avoiding the heat transfer tube 2c. At this time, by arranging the heat exchanger 2 obliquely on the contact surface, as shown in FIG. 3-2, the drain water 9 is a region where the drain pan 9 and the heat exchanger 2 are not in contact (non-contact Part P) can be collected and drainage can be improved. Furthermore, the heat exchange area can be increased in a space-saving manner, and the heat exchange efficiency can be improved.

  The filter 7 is disposed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger 2 and collects dust contained in the air passing through the air passage 1b. The sensor unit 5 is disposed on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 2 and measures the physical properties of air. By performing feedback control using the measurement result, it is possible to control the air so as to approach an optimum state.

  The drain pan 9 is disposed below the heat exchanger 2 and supports the heat exchanger 2 from the bottom surface 29 side. The drain pan 9 collects dew condensation water (drain water) generated from the heat exchanger 2 especially during cooling, and prevents water leakage into the room or the like.

  In the air conditioner configured as described above, the air taken in from the air suction port 6 passes through the filter 7, and then is cooled or heated by the heat exchanger 2, and the duct 4 connected to the air outlet 8 is connected. The air is distributed and distributed to each room.

  At this time, the physical properties of the air can be measured by the sensor unit 5 arranged on the leeward side of the heat exchanger 2, and the air can be controlled to an optimum state by feedback control. Moreover, the drain water dripped from the heat exchanger 2 is recovered by the drain pan 9 attached to the lower side of the heat exchanger 2.

  Next, the detailed structure of the drain pan 9 will be described below. FIG. 3C is an external perspective view of the drain pan 9. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the drain pan 9 in a state where the heat exchanger 2 is supported. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the arrow A shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the groove 15 portion. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan 9 in a state where the heat exchanger 2 is supported.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the drain pan 9 is provided with a bank (supporting portion) 14 at a position higher than the bottom surface of the drain pan 9. The bank 14 is in surface contact with the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2 and supports the heat exchanger 2. The bank 14 has a long side contact portion 14a and a short side contact portion 14b, and has a U-shape as a whole.

  The long side contact portion 14 a is in surface contact with a region along the long side 28 on the outflow surface 26 side in the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2. The short side contact portion 14 b is in surface contact with a region along the short side 27 on both sides of the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2. As shown in FIG. 5, in this Embodiment, the short side contact part 14b surface-contacts the part bent by the L shape below the side plate 2b. In addition, the part which contacts the bank 14 among the bottom surfaces 29 of the heat exchanger 2 is shown with the oblique line in FIG.

  By configuring the bank 14 in this manner, a region on the inflow surface 25 side of the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2 with respect to the region supported by the long side contact portion 14 a is not covered with the bank 14 and is opened. It will be in the state. In addition, airtight can be taken more reliably by making the short side contact part 14b into the shape of a width | variety larger than the part bent by the L shape under the side plate 2b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the bank 14 is provided with an inclination so that drain water flows downward. The drain pan 9 is formed by integrally molding the foamed polystyrene part 10 and the resin part 11, and is configured to cover the surface of the foamed polystyrene part 10 with the resin part 11.

  The resin part 11 prevents drain water from penetrating into the foamed polystyrene part 10 and prevents dripping. Further, the drain pan 9 is provided with a drain outlet 12 for draining from one place after drain water is collected.

  The drain pan 9 is provided with a protruding portion 13 in order to collect drain water dripping from the connecting portion of the refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit (air conditioner unit 1). Since the drain pan 9 is made of foamed polystyrene, when drain water is collected, heat transfer to the outer wall and the contact portion of the drain pan 9 due to low-temperature drain water can be suppressed. It is possible to prevent condensation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, a wall 17 is formed in the drain pan 9 at a position downstream of the heat exchanger 2. The wall portion 17 is provided over substantially the entire width of the air passage 1b. The wall portion 17 is higher in the vertical direction than the heat transfer tube 2c closest to the bank 14 (hereinafter referred to as the proximity heat transfer tube 2d) among the heat transfer tubes 2c arranged in a staggered manner in a side view. It is formed to be a position.

  By configuring the wall portion 17 as described above, the drain water is prevented from overflowing from the drain pan 9, and the housing damage due to dripping onto the floor of the house due to water leakage is prevented. Specifically, when the distance between the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d and the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2 is small, the drain water is blocked by the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d, so that the drain water is higher than the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d. May accumulate.

  However, even if the drain water is accumulated up to a position higher than the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d, the wall portion 17 is formed to a position higher than that. It flows toward the drainage port 12 over the heat transfer tube 2d.

  FIG. 8 is a view for illustrating another arrangement example of the heat transfer tube 2 c, and is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan 9 in a state in which the heat exchanger 2 is supported. As a staggered arrangement of the heat transfer tubes 2c, for example, the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 is also possible. In this case, the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d closest to the bank 14 is in the second row from the outflow surface 26 side. In this case, since the distance from the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d to the wall portion 17 is longer than in the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, the margin for water leakage increases.

  A groove 15 is partially formed in the long side contact portion 14a of the bank 14 as shown in FIG. Through the groove 15, the drain water can smoothly flow from the outflow surface 26 side of the heat exchanger 2 to the inflow surface 25 side. Thereby, it is prevented that drain water overflows from the drain pan 9, and the house damage by dripping on the floor of a house is prevented.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by attaching a packing material 16 to the groove 15, air is prevented from passing through the groove 15, and a decrease in heat exchange efficiency is suppressed. Here, by using the packing material 16 through which drain water easily passes, the drain water can be easily passed while the heat exchanger 2 and the groove 15 are hermetically sealed.

  In general, the material used for the packing material 16 includes a closed foam type and a continuous foam type. By using a continuous foam type, the heat exchanger 2 and the groove 15 are hermetically sealed. Meanwhile, the drain water can be easily passed.

  FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drain pan 9 in a state in which the heat exchanger 2 is supported, and is a view for explaining the passage of air from the bottom surface 29. FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing the internal configuration of the air conditioner.

  In the structure of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, since the blower 3 is installed at the upper part of the heat exchanger 2, the air volume is likely to be lower at the lower part than at the upper part of the heat exchanger 2. Furthermore, since the heat exchanger 2 is disposed at an inclination, the air passing through the lower part of the heat exchanger 2 is likely to be less than the air passing through the upper part of the heat exchanger 2.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a part of the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2 is supported without being blocked by the bank 14. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, air can pass through a region of the bottom surface 29 that is open without being blocked by the bank 14. In this way, air is also passed from the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2 to compensate for the decrease in the air volume at the lower part of the heat exchanger 2 and to increase the air passing through the lower part of the heat exchanger 2. The exchange efficiency can be improved.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper surface side and the side surface side of the heat exchanger 2 have a structure with no gap between the other metal plates 19 and 20, and air that does not pass through the fins 2a (heat exchanger 2). There shall be almost no.

  FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a drain pan 109 as a comparative example supports the heat exchanger 2. In a drain pan 109 shown as a comparative example, the bank 114 is in surface contact with most of the region of the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2. For this reason, air cannot pass through the bottom surface 29 of the heat exchanger 2, so that air passing through the lower part of the heat exchanger 2 is reduced. As a result, the heat exchange efficiency may decrease. Further, since the number of the adjacent heat transfer tubes 2d close to the bank 114 (see also FIGS. 7 and 8) increases, the drain water is easily damped, and the drain water easily overflows from the drain pan 109.

  FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view in which the wall 17 portion of the drain pan 9 is enlarged. FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged view in which the wall 17 portion of the drain pan 9 is enlarged. Dust and the like in the house enter the air passage 1b together with air and accumulate in a slime shape, so that the flow path between the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d closest to the bank 14 and the bank 14 becomes narrow, and drain water is generated. It may become difficult to flow. When the drain water becomes difficult to flow due to the difficulty in flowing the drain water, the drain water flows down through the groove 15 as shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the drain water is difficult to flow in the groove 15 and the drain water is accumulated, the wall portion 17 of the drain pan 9 is provided at a position higher than the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d. Drain water flows over the heat transfer tube 2d.

  Further, even when the drain water increases, such as when the capacity of the air conditioner is increased or when heat of high humidity air is exchanged, the gap between the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d and the bank 14 or the groove 15 may flow. Since the drain water that could not be made flows over the adjacent heat transfer tube 2d, it is possible to prevent the drain water from overflowing from the drain pan 9.

  FIG. 14 is an external perspective view of a drain pan 9 as a modification. FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged view of a groove portion of the drain pan 9 as a modified example. In this modification, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a packing material 18 is affixed to substantially the entire surface of the bank 14 that contacts the heat exchanger 2.

  By attaching the packing material 18 to substantially the entire surface of the bank 14 that comes into contact with the heat exchanger 2, the heat exchanger 2 and the bank 14 can be more securely sealed. In this case, the contact surface of the packing material 18 with the fins 2 a is compressed by the weight of the heat exchanger 2.

  Therefore, even if the thickness of the packing material 18 is 5 to 10 mm, for example, the packing material 18 is compressed to a thickness of 1 mm or less, and the drain water flows through the upper portion of the packing material 18 to the drain port 12.

  Further, the packing material 18 attached to substantially the entire surface of the bank 14 that contacts the heat exchanger 2 also functions as a buffer material for the resin portion 11 of the drain pan 9. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the drain pan 9 from being scratched or perforated by the heat exchanger 2 or the like, and to prevent water leakage from the drain pan 9.

  Further, the thickness of the packing material 18 is increased at a portion overlapping the groove 15, and the bank 14 and the heat exchanger 2 are hermetically sealed even at the groove 15 portion. As in the above-described example, the packing material 18 can be made to pass drain water while keeping the heat exchanger 2 and the groove 15 airtight by using a continuous foaming material.

  As described above, the air conditioner according to the present invention is useful for an air conditioner including a heat exchanger.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner unit 1a Main body 1b Air passage 2 Heat exchanger 2a Fin 2b Side plate 2c Heat transfer tube 2d Proximity heat transfer tube 3 Blower (circulation fan)
4 Duct 5 Sensor unit 6 Air inlet (suction inlet)
7 Filter 8 Air outlet (air outlet)
9 Drain pan 10 Styrofoam part 11 Resin part 12 Drainage port 13 Protrusion part 14 Bank (support part)
14a Long side contact portion 14b Short side contact portion 15 Groove 16 Packing material 17 Wall portion 18 Packing material 19, 20 Sheet metal 25 Inflow surface 26 Outflow surface 27 Short side 28 Long side 29 Bottom surface 109 Drain pan 114 Bank P Non-contact portion

Claims (7)

A main body in which an air inlet and an air outlet are formed, and an air passage leading from the air inlet to the air outlet is provided inside;
A circulation fan that is housed inside the main body and causes air to flow from the suction port toward the blowout port;
A heat exchanger that is arranged in the air passage and performs heat exchange with air passing through the air passage, and exhibits a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape;
A drain pan provided below the heat exchanger for collecting drain water,
The bottom surface of the heat exchanger has a rectangular shape in which a direction substantially parallel to the air passage direction is a short side and a direction substantially perpendicular to the air passage direction is a long side,
The drain pan is formed with a support portion that is in surface contact with the bottom surface of the heat exchanger along the long side on the downstream side in the air passage direction, and is supported.
The heat exchanger is disposed so as to be inclined so that the downstream surface faces obliquely upward,
The air conditioner characterized in that a region on the upstream side of the support portion in the bottom surface of the heat exchanger is a region through which air can pass.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the support portion supports the heat exchanger in surface contact along the short side. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air outlet is formed at a position above the air inlet. The heat exchanger has a plurality of heat transfer tubes provided to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the air passage direction,
In the drain pan, a wall portion higher than the heat transfer tube closest to the support portion is provided over a substantially entire area of the width of the air passage at a position downstream of the heat exchanger. The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein   The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a groove that communicates the upstream side and the downstream side is formed in the support part that supports the bottom surface of the heat exchanger along the long side. Machine.   The air conditioner according to claim 5, further comprising a packing material provided in the groove.   The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a packing material provided on a surface of the support portion that contacts the heat exchanger.

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