JP4144571B2 - Heat pump equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump device in which a control unit that controls a compressor and other devices is disposed in a heat exchanger chamber in a casing.

  As a conventional outdoor unit for an air conditioner, for example, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known. In this outdoor unit, the casing is partitioned into a component storage chamber in which a compressor is disposed and a heat exchanger chamber in which a heat exchanger and a fan are disposed. An inverter control element for controlling the operation of the compressor, a control board for various operation controls, and the like are accommodated in an ECU box (switch box in Patent Document 1) and disposed in the heat exchanger chamber. . Note that cooling fins for cooling the inverter control element are formed on the outer surface of the ECU box.

  Here, the control board is directly attached to the inverter control element, and the ECU box is disposed in the heat exchanger chamber so that the control board is positioned along any one of the top plate, the side plate, and the bottom plate of the casing. Yes.

This ensures serviceability and prevents the inverter control element and control board from getting wet by the ECU box even if water enters the heat exchanger room from the outside. The cooling performance of the control board can be improved, and furthermore, a compact arrangement of the ECU box is possible.
JP-A-9-257276

  However, in reality, multiple harnesses are connected to the compressor and various devices from the inverter control element and control board, and a waterproof structure for the inside of the ECU box is required at the harness take-out part from the ECU box. It becomes. In Patent Document 1, there is no detailed description relating to this, and in order to provide reliable waterproofing, a complicated waterproof structure is required, and as a result, the assembling property is deteriorated and the cost is increased.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat pump device that can ensure waterproofness in an ECU box with a simple structure while maintaining sufficient cooling by arranging the entire ECU box in a heat exchanger chamber. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the box-shaped casing (110) is partitioned by the partition plate (111), the machine room (110a) in which the compressor (121) is disposed, the heat exchanger (122), and this An inverter control element (150) which is partitioned into a heat exchanger chamber (110b) in which a fan (123) for supplying outside air to the heat exchanger (122) is disposed and which controls the operation of the compressor (121). And a heat pump having an ECU box (130) that houses an electric component (160) related to the inverter control element (150), and the entire ECU box (130) is disposed in the heat exchanger chamber (110b). In the apparatus, an opening (131) that opens on the partition plate (111) side of the ECU box (130) and the position of the opening (131) pass through the partition plate (111). In addition to providing a through hole (111a), a connection part (140) for connecting the opening (131) and the through hole (111a) is formed so that water droplets do not easily enter from the opening (131), and inverter control is performed. The harness (160a) of the element (150) and the electrical component (160) is routed to the machine room (110a) side through the connection portion (140), and the anti-opening side of the ECU box (130) A hole (133) having a drop mechanism is provided, and the connecting portion (140) is a cylindrical extension provided on one side (131) of the opening (131) and the through hole (111a). The installation portion (132) is formed by being inserted into the other side (111a) .

  As a result, the ECU box (130) is cooled by the outside air flowing through the heat exchanger chamber (110b) when the fan (123) is operated, and the heat resistance of the internal inverter control element (150) and the electrical component (160) is improved. it can.

The formation of the connecting portion (140) prevents the entry of water (such as rainwater entering the heat exchanger chamber) into the ECU box (130), while preventing the harness (160a) from entering the machine chamber (110a). It can be routed, and a complicated waterproof structure that is normally set at a part where the harness (160a) is taken out from the ECU box (130) can be eliminated.
Further, the operation of the fan (123) causes the pressure in the heat exchanger chamber (110b) to be lower than the pressure in the machine chamber (110a) (becomes negative pressure), so that the opening from the machine chamber (110a) is opened. (131), an air flow that passes through the ECU box (130) and exits from the punch hole (133) is formed, and the inverter control element (150) and the electric component (160) in the ECU box (130) are effectively connected. Can be cooled.

Further, as in the invention described in claim 2 , if the extending portion (132) is provided on the opening (131) side of the opening (131) and the through hole (111a), the ECU box ( The workability at the time of mounting 130) in the casing (110) can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 3 , at least one of the inverter control element (150) and the electric component (160) is disposed in a region close to either the opening (131) or the punched hole (133). It is a feature.

  In the vicinity of the opening (131) and the punched hole (133), the air circulation area is small, and the air circulation speed is faster than in the ECU box (130). Therefore, the inverter control element (150) and the electrical component (160) can be cooled more effectively.

In the invention according to claim 4 , the heat exchanger (122) absorbs heat from the outside air and heats the internal fluid that circulates in the interior, and includes an inverter control element (150) and an electric component (160). At least one is characterized in that it is arranged in a region close to the heat exchanger (122).

  Thereby, since a heat exchanger (122) becomes low temperature rather than external air, it can cool an inverter control element (150) and an electrical component (160) more effectively.

As in the fifth aspect of the invention, the electrical component (160) includes a noise filter element (161), a smoothing capacitor (162), and a current detection element that require improvement in heat resistance by cooling. It is suitable for the element (163).

In the invention according to claim 6 , the heat exchanger (122) absorbs heat from the outside air and heats the internal fluid flowing through the inside, and the ECU box (130) is supported by the support portion (171). The support portion (171) is in contact with the heat exchanger (122).

  As a result, heat from the ECU box (130) is transmitted to the heat exchanger (122) that is cooler than the outside air, so that the inverter control element (150) and the electrical component (160) can be more effectively cooled. Can do. Further, for the heat exchanger (122), the internal fluid can be heated by the transmitted heat, so that the heat exchange performance can be improved.

In the invention according to claim 7 , the inverter control element (150) is provided with a cooling fin (151) for releasing the generated heat to the outside air side, and the cooling fin (151) It is characterized by being in contact with (171).

  As a result, the heat from the inverter control element (150) is transferred from the cooling fin (151) to the heat exchanger (122) that is cooler than the outside air, so that the cooling performance of the inverter control element (150) can be improved. The cooling fin (151) can be reduced in size.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means of embodiment description mentioned later.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are a plan view and a side view showing the heat pump device 100, FIGS. 3 and 4 are a plan view and a front view showing the ECU box 130, and FIG. 5 is a plan view and a side view showing the connecting portion 140. is there.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat pump device 100 of the present invention is used in a hot water supply device and is installed outdoors, and a device (compressor 121, water heat) that constitutes a heat pump cycle in a casing 110. An exchanger 124, a heat exchanger 122, etc.) and an ECU box 130 are provided.

  The casing 110 has a rectangular parallelepiped box shape, and the inside thereof is partitioned into a machine room 110 a and a heat exchanger room 110 b by a partition plate 111. On the side of the heat exchanger chamber 110b, an air inlet 112 and an air outlet 113 are provided on the side walls of the casing 110 facing each other. In the heat exchanger chamber 110b, there is rainwater that enters from the air inlet 112 and the air outlet 113 and condensed water that is generated by the heat exchanger 122 described later.

  An electric compressor 121 and a water heat exchanger 124 are arranged in the machine room 110a. In the heat exchanger chamber 110b, a heat exchanger 122 corresponding to the air inlet 112 side and a fan 123 driven by a motor 123a corresponding to the air outlet 113 are disposed. The fan 123 (motor 123a) is supported by a fan bracket 170 that is fixed (contacted) to the bottom surface of the casing 110 and the upper end of the heat exchanger 122.

  Incidentally, the heat pump cycle is a closed circuit in which the compressor 121, the water heat exchanger 124, an expansion valve (not shown), and the heat exchanger 122 are sequentially connected to circulate the refrigerant (corresponding to the internal fluid in the present invention). It is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ECU box 130 is a flat box made of a resin material. Inside the ECU box 130 is a compressor 121, a fan 123 (motor 123a), an expansion valve (not shown), and the like. An inverter control element 150 for controlling the operation and various electric parts 160 related thereto are accommodated. The ECU box 130 is entirely disposed in the heat exchanger chamber 110b, and is a stay portion (corresponding to the support portion in the present invention) 171 that is integrally extended from the fan bracket 170 in the horizontal direction (FIG. 2). It is fixed to.

  An opening 131 is provided in the side wall of the ECU box 130 on the side of the partition plate 111 so as to communicate with the outside via an extension 132 described later. Further, a drip-proof mechanism, specifically, a through hole 133 having a labyrinth structure is formed on the side wall of the ECU box 130 opposite to the opening 131 so as to communicate with the outside.

  The inverter control element 150 housed in the ECU box 130 converts the DC power into AC power by switching the switching element and changes the power (AC power) supplied to the compressor 121 to operate the compressor 121. The number of revolutions is controlled. Since the inverter control element 150 generates heat during operation, the inverter control element 150 protrudes outside the ECU box 130, and heat generated from the inverter control element 150 is transferred to the outside air in the heat exchanger chamber 110b. Cooling fins 151 that discharge (cool the inverter control element 150) are provided, and the cooling fins 151 are in contact with a stay portion 171 to which the ECU box 130 is fixed.

  Various electric components 160 related to the inverter control element 150 include a noise filter element 161 that removes electric noise, a smoothing capacitor 162 that smoothes the current, and a current detection element that detects the current flowing through the inverter control element 150. 163, an inverter control element 150, a fan 123 (motor 123a), a control element 164 for controlling an expansion valve (not shown), and the like, and are assembled to the ECU board 165.

  Note that the noise filter element 161 and the current detection element 163 are components that generate heat in the same manner as the inverter control element 150 during operation, and the smoothing capacitor 162 does not generate heat, but has an effect on the life due to heat. Both are easy to receive and both require cooling to maintain and improve heat resistance.

  On the ECU board 165, the various electrical components 160 (161, 162, 163) are arranged as follows here. That is, the noise filter element 161 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 131, the smoothing capacitor 162 is disposed in the vicinity of the heat exchanger 122, and the current detection element 163 is disposed in the vicinity of the punched hole 133.

  A plurality of harnesses 160a extending from the inverter control element 150 and various electrical components 160 (161 to 164) are taken out of the ECU box 130 and further routed to the machine room 110a side. Is characterized by its structure, the details of which will be described below.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening 131 of the ECU box 130 is integrally formed with a cylindrical extending portion 132 (here, a square cross section) extending toward the partition plate 111 side. Moreover, in the partition plate 111, the through-hole 111a is provided in the position corresponding to the opening part 131 (extension part 132), and the extension part 132 is inserted in the through-hole 111a. Further, the gap between the extending portion 132 and the through hole 111a is sealed by the packing 134 so that water droplets do not easily enter the ECU box 130 from the opening 131 in the heat exchanger chamber 110b. The opening portion 131, the extending portion 132, the through hole 111a, and the packing 134 form the connecting portion 140 in the present invention. The harness 160a is routed from the opening 131 to the machine room 110a through the extended portion 132.

  Next, the operation of the heat pump device 100 based on the above configuration and the operation and effect thereof will be described.

  The control element 164 in the ECU box 130 controls the operation speed of the fan 123 (motor 123a), the opening degree of an expansion valve (not shown), and switching of the switching element of the inverter control element 150. The inverter control element 150 controls the compressor. The operating speed of 121 is controlled. By the operation of the fan 123, outside air is taken in from the air inlet 112, and the outside air passes through the heat exchanger 122 and is discharged from the air outlet 113.

  The compressor 121 compresses the refrigerant from the heat exchanger 122 to a high temperature and high pressure and discharges it to the water heat exchanger 124. The water heat exchanger 124 exchanges heat between the high temperature refrigerant and the hot water supply water, Heat to hot water. The refrigerant flowing out of the water heat exchanger 124 is expanded to a low temperature and a low pressure by an expansion valve (not shown) and flows into the heat exchanger 122. The heat exchanger 122 absorbs heat from the outside air supplied by the fan 123 to heat the refrigerant and returns it to the compressor 121. Note that the temperature of the outside air decreases due to the endothermic action of the heat exchanger 122. When the temperature falls below the dew point temperature, the water vapor in the outside air condenses to generate condensed water.

  In the present heat pump device 100, since the entire ECU box 130 is disposed in the heat exchanger chamber 110b, the ECU box 130 is cooled by outside air flowing through the heat exchanger chamber 110b when the fan 123 is operated, The heat resistance of the inverter control element 150 and various electrical components 160 (161 to 164) can be improved.

  Then, the extension portion 132 of the ECU box 130 is inserted into the through hole 111a of the partition plate 111 to form the connection portion 140, thereby preventing water (rain and condensed water described above) from entering the ECU box 130. However, the harness 160a can be routed to the machine room 110a side, and a complicated waterproof structure that is normally set at a portion where the harness 160a is taken out from the ECU box 130 can be eliminated.

  Here, in forming the connection portion 140 through which the harness 160a is passed, the extending portion 132 is provided on the ECU box 130 side and is inserted into the through hole 111a of the partition plate 111. It is possible to improve the workability when attaching to the camera.

  Further, when the heat pump device 100 is operated, the pressure in the heat exchanger chamber 110b becomes lower than the pressure in the machine chamber 110a (becomes negative pressure) by the operation of the fan 123. Since the ECU box 130 is provided with a hole 133 on the opposite side of the opening 131, the flow of air passing through the opening 131 and the ECU box 130 from the machine room 110a and through the hole 133 is prevented. The inverter control element 150 and the various electric components 160 (161 to 164) in the ECU box 130 can be effectively cooled.

  In particular, in the vicinity of the opening 131 and the punched hole 133, the air circulation area is small, and the air circulation speed is faster than the inside of the ECU box 130. Therefore, the electrical component 160 (specifically, the noise filter element 161 and the current detection element 163) disposed in the vicinity of the opening 131 and the punched hole 133 can be cooled more effectively.

  Further, the heat exchanger 122 absorbs heat from the outside air and heats the refrigerant flowing through the inside, and has a lower temperature than the outside air. Therefore, the heat exchanger 122 is arranged in a region close to the heat exchanger 122 in the ECU box 130. The electric component 160 (specifically, the smoothing capacitor 162) to be performed can be cooled more effectively.

  Further, the stay portion 171 that supports the ECU box 130 is in contact with the heat exchanger 122 via the fan bracket 170, so that the heat from the ECU box 130 becomes closer to the heat exchanger 122 side where the temperature is lower than the outside air. The inverter control element 150 and various electric components 160 (161 to 164) can be further effectively cooled. Further, for the heat exchanger 122, the internal refrigerant can be heated by the transmitted heat, so that the heat exchange performance can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the cooling fin 151 of the inverter control element 150 is in contact with the stay portion 171, heat from the inverter control element 150 is also transmitted from the cooling fin 151 to the heat exchanger 122 side, and cooling of the inverter control element 150 is performed. Performance can be improved and the cooling fin 151 can be reduced in size.

  In forming the connecting portion 140, the extending portion 132 may be provided on the through hole 111 a side of the partition plate 111 and inserted into the opening 131 of the ECU box 130.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2nd Embodiment changes the shape of the connection part 140 with respect to the said 1st Embodiment.

  Here, the connecting portion 140 is not provided with the extending portion 132 described in the first embodiment, and the outer peripheral portions of the opening portion 131 and the through hole 111a are in close contact with each other via the packing 134 (opening portion). 131 so that a water droplet does not easily enter from 131).

  Thereby, the effect similar to the said 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

(Other embodiments)
In the said 1st, 2nd embodiment, although the heat pump apparatus 100 of this invention was demonstrated as a thing for hot-water supply apparatuses, it is good also as a thing for air-conditioning apparatuses. If the outside air temperature after heat exchange is lower than the operating temperature of the inverter control element 150 and various electric components 160, the heat exchanger 122 is not limited to the one that absorbs heat from the outside air, and releases the heat of the internal refrigerant to the outside air. It is good as a thing.

  Further, the arrangement positions of the inverter control element 150 and the various electric components 160 in the ECU box 130 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and the cooling effect by the circulating air in the ECU box 130 and the heat exchanger 122 is not limited. May be set according to design and manufacturing restrictions.

Further, if the cooling of the inverter control element 150 and the various electrical components 160 is sufficient by the air blown by the fan 123, the fan bracket 170 that radiates heat from the stay portion 171 to the heat exchanger 122 may not be provided.

  Further, the through hole 111 a may be formed by the partition plate 111 and the casing 110.

It is a top view which shows the heat pump apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows the heat pump apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the ECU box in FIG. It is a front view which shows the ECU box in FIG. It is the top view and side view which show the connection part in FIG. It is a top view which shows the heat pump apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. It is the top view and side view which show the connection part in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Heat pump apparatus 110 Casing 110a Machine room 110b Heat exchanger room 111 Partition plate 111a Through hole 121 Compressor 122 Heat exchanger 123 Fan 130 ECU box 131 Opening part 132 Extension part 133 Punching hole 140 Connection part 150 Inverter control element 151 Cooling Fin 160 Electrical component 160a Harness 161 Noise filter element 162 Smoothing capacitor 163 Current detection element 171 Stay section (support section)

Claims (7)

Inside the box-shaped casing (110) is partitioned by a partition plate (111), and outside air is supplied to the machine room (110a) in which the compressor (121) is disposed, the heat exchanger (122), and the heat exchanger (122). A heat exchanger chamber (110b) in which a fan (123) to be supplied is disposed;
An inverter control element (150) that controls the operation of the compressor (121) and an ECU box (130) that houses an electrical component (160) related to the inverter control element (150);
In the heat pump device in which the entire ECU box (130) is disposed in the heat exchanger chamber (110b),
An opening (131) opening on the partition plate (111) side of the ECU box (130);
Corresponding to the position of the opening (131), a through hole (111a) that penetrates the partition plate (111) is provided,
A connection part (140) for connecting the opening part (131) and the through hole (111a) is formed so that water droplets do not easily enter from the opening part (131),
The inverter control element (150) and the harness (160a) of the electrical component (160) are routed to the machine room (110a) side through the connection portion (140),
A punch hole (133) having a drip-proof mechanism is provided on the side opposite to the opening of the ECU box (130) .
The connecting portion (140) has a cylindrical extending portion (132) provided on one side (131) of the opening (131) and the through hole (111a) inserted into the other side (111a). A heat pump device characterized by being formed. The heat pump device according to claim 1 , wherein the extended portion (132) is provided on the opening (131) side of the opening (131) and the through hole (111a). Claims wherein at least one of the inverter control device (150) and the electrical component (160), said opening (131), characterized in that disposed in the region close to one of the drain hole (133) The heat pump apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 2 . The heat exchanger (122) absorbs heat from the outside air and heats an internal fluid flowing through the inside,
At least one of the inverter control device (150) and the electrical component (160) to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that disposed in the region close to the heat exchanger (122) The heat pump apparatus as described. The heat pump device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the electrical component (160) includes a noise filter element (161), a smoothing capacitor (162), and a current detection element (163). The heat exchanger (122) absorbs heat from the outside air and heats an internal fluid flowing through the inside,
The ECU box (130) is supported by a support portion (171),
The heat pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the support portion (171) is in contact with the heat exchanger (122). The inverter control element (150) is provided with cooling fins (151) that release the generated heat to the outside air side,
The heat pump device according to claim 6 , wherein the cooling fin (151) is in contact with the support portion (171).

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