U.S. patent application number 16/488611 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-06 for indoor unit and air conditioner.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. Invention is credited to Seiji HIRAKAWA, Hajime IKEDA, Takashi KOBAYASHI, Masayuki OISHI, Akinori SAKABE, Tadakiyo SEKI.
Application Number | 20210131699 16/488611 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005385090 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-06 |
![](/patent/app/20210131699/US20210131699A1-20210506\US20210131699A1-2021050)
United States Patent
Application |
20210131699 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEKI; Tadakiyo ; et
al. |
May 6, 2021 |
INDOOR UNIT AND AIR CONDITIONER
Abstract
An indoor unit is equipped with a housing having an inlet
opening and an outlet opening, a propeller fan disposed in an air
passage interconnecting the inlet opening and the outlet opening, a
heat exchanger disposed downstream from the propeller fan, and a
lateral airflow direction changing plate that is disposed
downstream from the heat exchanger and that changes an airflow
direction laterally. The heat exchanger is a fin-and-tube type heat
exchanger equipped with a plurality of fins and a plurality of heat
transfer tubes passing through the fins. The lateral airflow
direction plate has slits in an airflow downstream region that is
downstream from the heat transfer tubes.
Inventors: |
SEKI; Tadakiyo; (Tokyo,
JP) ; KOBAYASHI; Takashi; (Tokyo, JP) ; IKEDA;
Hajime; (Tokyo, JP) ; HIRAKAWA; Seiji; (Tokyo,
JP) ; OISHI; Masayuki; (Tokyo, JP) ; SAKABE;
Akinori; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation |
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005385090 |
Appl. No.: |
16/488611 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
April 11, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2017/014858 |
371 Date: |
August 26, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/15 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/15 20060101
F24F013/15 |
Claims
1. An indoor unit comprising: an air blower disposed in an air
passage; a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the air blower
and including a plurality of fins and a heat transfer tube passing
through the fins; and an airflow direction changing plate to change
an airflow direction, the airflow direction changing plate being
disposed downstream from the heat exchanger and having an opening
portion in an airflow downstream region that is downstream from the
heat transfer tube; wherein an opening fraction of the opening
portion gradually decreases from an airflow upstream to an airflow
downstream.
2. (canceled)
3. An indoor unit comprising: an air blower disposed in an air
passage; a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the air blower
and including a plurality of fins and a heat transfer tube passing
through the fins; and an airflow direction changing plate to change
airflow direction, the airflow direction changing plate being
disposed downstream from the heat exchanger and having an opening
portion in an airflow downstream region that is downstream from the
heat transfer tube; wherein the opening portion includes a slit
extending from an airflow upstream to an airflow downstream of the
airflow direction changing plate, and an airflow upstream side of
the slit has an opened notch shape.
4. (canceled)
5. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening
portion includes a plurality of through holes, each through hole
having a diameter that gradually decreases from an airflow upstream
to an airflow downstream of the airflow direction changing
plate.
6. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening
portion is disposed in an entire region of the airflow direction
changing plate and includes a plurality of through holes with an
opening density that gradually decreases from an airflow upstream
to an airflow downstream of the airflow direction changing
plate.
7. (canceled)
8. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the air blower
includes a propeller fan.
9. An air conditioner comprising the indoor unit according to claim
1.
10. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening
portion includes a slit having a width that gradually decreases
from an airflow upstream to an airflow downstream of the airflow
direction changing plate.
11. The indoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening
portion includes a plurality of through holes for which a
distribution count gradually decreases from an airflow upstream to
an airflow downstream of the airflow direction changing plate.
12. The indoor unit according to claim 5, wherein the opening
portion includes a plurality of through holes for which a
distribution count gradually decreases from an airflow upstream to
an airflow downstream of the airflow direction changing plate.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit and an air
conditioner.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An air conditioner is equipped with airflow direction
changing plates for changing direction of blown air flowing out
from an indoor unit. For example, in Patent Literature 1, a lateral
airflow direction changing plate is proposed that has multiple
slits formed thinly in a direction of airflow in an intermediate
region and excluding an upstream end region and an airflow
downstream end region of airflow.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application
Kokai Publication No. 2008-80839
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] The lateral airflow direction changing plate is sometimes
disposed in the downstream vicinity of a fin-and-tube type heat
exchanger. In this case, the air reaches the lateral airflow
direction changing plate in a state in which both a temperature
distribution and an absolute humidity distribution of the air
remain non-uniform, and such operation suffers from the occurrence
of condensation on the lateral airflow direction changing
plate.
[0005] In order to solve such a problem, an object of the present
disclosure is to provide an indoor unit and an air conditioner that
are equipped with an airflow direction changing plate on which
condensation tends not to occur.
Solution to Problem
[0006] In order to attain the aforementioned objective, an indoor
unit according to the present disclosure includes:
[0007] an air blower disposed in an air passage;
[0008] a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the air blower and
including a plurality of fins and a heat transfer tube passing
through the fins; and
[0009] an airflow direction changing plate to change an airflow
direction, the airflow direction changing plate being disposed
downstream from the heat exchanger and having an opening portion in
an airflow downstream region that is downstream from the heat
transfer tube.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0010] According to the present disclosure, the airflow direction
changing plate has an opening portion in the airflow downstream
region from the heat transfer tube. Therefore, condensation on the
airflow direction changing plate tends not to occur.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing as viewed from a side
face of an indoor unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 1;
[0013] FIG. 2B is a drawing illustrating arrangement of a heat
exchanger and the lateral airflow direction changing plate as
viewed at a frontally forward tilt;
[0014] FIG. 3A is a side view of the lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 1;
[0015] FIG. 3B is a drawing for description of change of an opening
fraction of slits per unit surface area;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a contour diagram (contour drawing) of a numerical
analysis illustrating a temperature distribution of air flowing in
a periphery of the lateral airflow direction changing plate during
cooling;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a contour diagram of a numerical analysis
illustrating a condensation speed distribution of a lateral airflow
direction changing plate surface in the case of the air temperature
distribution conditions illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side view of a lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 2 of the present
disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view of a lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 3 of the present
disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side view of a lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 4 of the present
disclosure;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side view of a lateral airflow direction
changing plate according to Embodiment 5 of the present
disclosure;
[0022] FIG. 10A is a drawing illustrating an example of a
cross-sectional shape of an opening portion of the lateral airflow
direction changing plate surface;
[0023] FIG. 10B is a drawing illustrating another example of a
cross-sectional shape of an opening portion of the lateral airflow
direction changing plate surface;
[0024] FIG. 10C is a drawing illustrating yet another example of a
cross-sectional shape of an opening portion of the lateral airflow
direction changing plate surface;
[0025] FIG. 10D is a drawing illustrating yet even another example
of a cross-sectional shape of an opening portion of the lateral
airflow direction changing plate surface; and
[0026] FIG. 11 is a drawing of an air conditioner according to
Embodiment 1.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
[0027] An indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present
disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. Each of the
drawings is schematic, and thus components are not limited to the
shapes and sizes illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings,
components that are the same or equivalent are assigned the same
reference sign. The present disclosure relates to suppression of
condensation, and thus operation during cooling is assumed and
described unless otherwise noted.
[0028] The indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1, as
illustrated in FIG. 11, is connected to an outdoor unit 102 via
refrigerant tubes 101, and these components together make up an air
conditioner 110.
[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an inlet opening 2 that sucks in
air is arranged in an upper face of a housing 1 of the indoor unit
100, and an outlet opening 3 from which air blows out is arranged
in a lower face and a lower portion of a front face. Furthermore,
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional drawing as viewed from the side face of
the indoor unit 100, the left direction of the drawing is the
indoor direction in which air is sent and is also termed "front
(frontward)", and the right direction of the drawing is the
direction to the wall for attachment of the indoor unit 100 and is
also termed "rear (rearward)". The upward direction in the drawing
is also termed "up (above)", and the downward direction is also
termed "down (below)".
[0030] In an air passage interconnecting the inlet opening 2 and
the outlet opening 3 are arranged: a pushing-in type propeller fan
4 for sucking in indoor air from the inlet opening 2 and sending
out the air to a heat exchanger side, a heat exchanger 50
positioned in an airflow downstream direction that is downstream
from the propeller fan 4 and positioned in an airflow upstream
direction that is upstream from the outlet opening 3, and a drain
pan 6, disposed below the heat exchanger 50, for receiving and
discharging water that is generated due to condensation by the heat
exchanger 50. Further, in the present disclosure, "airflow" is
taken to mean the flow of air produced by the propeller fan 4. The
propeller fan 4 is one example of an air blower.
[0031] The heat exchanger 50 heats or cools the air blown by the
propeller fan 4. Specifically, the heat exchanger 50 includes a
forward-tilted portion 50a that is tilted forward, a
rearward-tilted portion 50b that is tilted rearward and positioned
opposingly behind the forward-tilted portion 50a, a forward-tilted
portion 50c that is tilted forward and positioned opposingly behind
the rearward-tilted portion 50b, and a rearward-tilted portion 50d
that is tilted rearward and positioned opposingly behind the
forward-tilted portion 50c; and these components are arranged in a
W-shaped configuration.
[0032] The forward-tilted portion 50a, the rearward-tilted portion
50b, the forward-tilted portion 50c, and the rearward-tilted
portion 50d each include flat plate-like fins 51 arranged in a row
and heat transfer tubes 52 passing through the fins 51 to form a
fin-and-tube type heat exchanger unit. By flow of a heat transfer
medium within the heat transfer tubes 52, by allowing the cold
temperature of the heat transfer medium during cooling to transfer
heat to the fins 51 that have a large surface area, and by use of
the fins as heat exchange plates, the fin-and-tube type heat
exchanger efficiency performs cooling of the air. The fins 51 are
arranged parallel to a direction of flow of air so as not to impede
the flow of air, and the heat transfer tubes 52 are arranged
extending in a direction orthogonal to the direction of flow of
air.
[0033] In the outlet opening 3 of the housing 1, a frontward
positioned front-side vertical airflow direction changing plate 7
and a rearward positioned rear-side vertical airflow direction
changing plate 8 are arranged, and each of these plates can change
vertically the airflow direction of the air.
[0034] The bottom-side lateral airflow direction changing plate 9
is arranged below the front-side vertical airflow direction
changing plate 7. The bottom-side lateral airflow direction
changing plate 9 can change the lateral airflow direction of the
air subjected to heat exchange by the rearward-tilted portion 50b,
the forward-tilted portion 50c, and the rearward-tilted portion
50d. Moreover, multiple top-side lateral airflow direction changing
plates 20 are arranged downstream from the forward-tilted portion
50a. The top-side lateral airflow direction changing plates 20 can
laterally change the airflow direction of the air subject to heat
exchange by the forward-tilted portion 50a.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 2A, cylindrically shaped attaching
parts 15 of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plates
20 are supported by supporting parts 16. The supporting parts 16
are fixed to a fixing part 10 fixed to the drain pan 6. The drain
pan 6 is attached to the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100. The
top-side lateral airflow direction changing plates 20 are rotatably
supported with respect to the supporting parts 16 so as to be
capable of clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation around, as
central axes, cylinder axes of the attaching parts 15.
[0036] Each of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing
plates 20 is connected to a single connector 12 via a respective
fixing implement 14, so that all of the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plates 20 are interlocked with the connector 12
to enable simultaneous change of direction. Specifically, upon
movement of the connector 12 in the rightward direction of FIG. 2A,
all of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plates 20
rotate in the counter-clockwise direction around, as the central
axis of rotation, the cylinder axis of the respective attaching
part 15. In doing so, the flow of air subjected to heat exchange by
the forward-tilted portion 50a changes become directed rightward.
Conversely, upon movement of the connector 12 in the leftward
direction of FIG. 2A, all of the top-side lateral airflow direction
changing plates 20 rotate in the clockwise direction around, as the
central axis of rotation, the cylinder axis of the respective
attaching part 15. In doing so, the flow of air changes to become
directed leftward. The lateral flow direction of air can be
adjusted in this manner.
[0037] As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plates 20 are oriented in the same direction as
that of the fins 51, and are disposed at downstream locations of
the air passing through gaps between the fins 51. The spacing
between the fins 51 is narrow, such as about 1 mm. Therefore, all
air passing between the fins 51 undergoes an effect of cooling by
the fins 51, and thus temperature imbalances are small. That is to
say, temperature differences are small between an airflow 46
passing through the vicinity of the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20 and an airflow 44 passing outside the
vicinity of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate
20. Thus, a side-direction arrangement position of the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20 in FIG. 2B may be
freely selected as long as the arrangement position is downstream
from the air passing within an overall region formed by the fins
51.
[0038] Although operation of the indoor unit 100 is performed by
use of a device such as an operating remote controller to start an
operation, stop an operation, and set parameters such as
temperature, air flow rate, and airflow direction, the control
system technology is the same as that of a conventional control
system. Moreover, the technology of the outdoor unit 102 that is
used for heat exchange is the same as that of a conventional
outdoor unit.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 3A, each of the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plates 20 has, in a region of relatively
low air temperature in comparison to the surroundings in the
airflow downstream from the heat transfer tube 52, two openings 21a
and 21b having gradually decreasing widths from the air flow
upstream to the downstream. Hereinafter, in accordance with these
shapes, the openings 21a and 21b are referred to as the slits 21a
and 21b. Further, the upper-right direction in FIG. 3A is the
airflow upstream direction, and the lower-left direction is the
airflow downstream direction.
[0040] The expression "airflow downstream from the heat transfer
tube 52" means the region at the downstream side through which air
flows at the periphery of the heat transfer tube 52. Due to the
presence of multiple heat transfer tubes 52, multiple airflow
downstreams exist. The term "slit" means an opening having a
long-narrow shape. The term "opening portion" means a hole, notch,
or the like passing from one surface to the other surface of the
top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate 20. The
expression "opening having gradually decreasing width" means that a
fraction of an opening surface area of the openings 21a and 21b per
a certain unit surface area of the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20 gradually decreases.
[0041] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, four virtual
rectangles 28a, 28b, 28c, and 28d are considered as indicated by
short-dashed lines overlapping the opening of the slit 21b. These
are rectangles of the same surface area disposed adjacent to each
other, in order, from the air flow upstream side to the downstream
side of the slit 21b. Firstly, the virtual rectangle 28a is
disposed such that the fraction of the opening of the slit 21b
included in the virtual rectangle 28a is largest. Next, adjacent to
the virtual rectangle 28a, the virtual rectangle 28b is disposed
such that the fraction of the opening of the slit 21b included in
the virtual rectangle 28b is largest. In the same manner, the
virtual rectangle 28c and the virtual rectangle 28d are disposed in
order. Due to arrangement in this manner, the surface area fraction
of the opening of the slit 21b occupied in the surface area of the
virtual rectangle 28a is largest, the opening fraction of the slit
21b occupied in the surface area of the virtual rectangle 28b is
next largest, the opening fraction of the slit 21b occupied in the
surface area of the virtual rectangle 28c is next largest, and the
smallest opening fraction is the opening fraction of the slit 21b
occupied by the virtual rectangle 28d most at the downstream side.
These relationships are similar for slit 21a.
[0042] For description of operation of such slits 21a and 21b, a
mechanism is described by which condensation occurs in an example
of a lateral airflow direction changing plate 40 of the
conventional technology that is not equipped with the slits 21a and
21b with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0043] In FIG. 4, intermediate temperature regions 41 filled with
hatching are regions through which air flows of a temperature that
is between temperatures of a low temperature region 43 through
which air flows that is cooled by the heat transfer tube 52 and a
high temperature region 42 through which air flows that is near
room temperature. The long-dashed line indicates an isothermal line
of the boundary between the low temperature region 43 and the
intermediate temperature region 41. The short-dashed line indicates
an isothermal line of the boundary between the high temperature
region 42 and the intermediate temperature region 41. The
long-dashed line is thus an isothermal line of lower temperature in
comparison to the short-dashed line. Curvature of the flow of air
in this manner is used because the drain pan 6 is disposed below
the heat transfer tubes 52 and the flow of air there is
blocked.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the air temperature of the
intermediate temperature region 41 that is downstream in the
airflow from the heat transfer tubes 52 is relatively low in
comparison to the air temperature of the high temperature region 42
of air that flows by passing through the middle between the heat
transfer tubes 52. The air of this intermediate temperature region
41 touches the surfaces of the lateral airflow direction changing
plate 40, and thus this air is cooled by the surfaces of the
lateral airflow direction changing plate 40. Within the lateral
airflow direction changing plate 40, heat conduction occurs and the
low temperature portion reaches the region of the lateral airflow
direction changing plate 40 through which the air of the high
temperature region 42 passes, and the surface temperature of this
region declines. Condensation occurs when the surface temperature
of the region through which the air of the high temperature region
42 passes is less than or equal to a dew point temperature of air
of the high temperature region 42.
[0045] In FIG. 5, the hatched portion is a region in which
condensation speed is greater than or equal to zero, that is to
say, is a condensation region 47 in which condensation occurs. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, condensation does not occur on the surface
of the lateral airflow direction changing plate 40 in a vicinity of
passage of a flowline 45 having, as an originating point, an
airflow back portion the heat transfer tube 52, but rather
condensation occurs in a region at a periphery of such
vicinity.
[0046] As may be understood from FIGS. 4 and 5, condensation on the
lateral airflow direction changing plate 40 is caused by: the air
that is cooled by the heat transfer tube 52 and is at relatively
low temperature in comparison to the periphery contacting the
lateral airflow direction changing plate 40 and being partially
cooled by the lateral airflow direction changing plate 40, and the
region cooled by heat conduction within the lateral airflow
direction changing plate 40 spreading so that there is a portion
where the air contacting the surface is less than or equal to the
dew point. On the basis of the aforementioned condensation
mechanism, avoiding partial cooling of the lateral air direction
charging plate 40, that is, as much as possible avoiding contact of
the lateral air direction charging plate 40 with the air cooling by
the heat transfer tube 52, is understood to be preferable for
suppressing the condensation on the lateral airflow direction
changing plate 40.
[0047] Therefore, in the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG.
3A, the slits 21a and 21b are arranged in the region through which
flows air of relatively low temperature of the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20 located in the airflow
downstream from the heat transfer tube 52. Due to such
configuration, the surface area where the relatively
low-temperature air contacts the top-side lateral airflow direction
changing plate 20 can be decreased. Furthermore, the region of
transmission of heat becomes smaller, and a heat conduction
suppression effect can be anticipated.
[0048] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the air cooled by the
heat exchanger 50 gradually mixes with relatively warm air of the
periphery from the airflow upstream to the downstream position, and
the air temperature distribution is equalized so that the
condensation region narrows with distance downstream. Width of the
slits gradually decrease with distance from the airflow upstream to
the downstream as in the slits 21a and 21b, and thus the lowering
in airflow direction change performance can be suppressed while
achieving the condensation prevention effect.
[0049] Due to configuration in this manner, the risk of the
occurrence of condensation on the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20 can be decreased, and even if
condensation occurs, a decrease in the condensation amount can be
achieved.
[0050] According to Embodiment 1 as described above, the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20 has the slits 21a and
21b in which slit width gradually decreases from the air flow
upstream to the downstream, of the rear portion of the heat
transfer tube 52, in the region contacted by air of relatively low
temperature in comparison to the periphery. Due to such
configuration, an indoor unit 100 can be provided for which
condensation tends not to occur even when the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20 is positioned in the downstream
vicinity of the fin-and-tube type heat exchanger 50.
[0051] Although the shapes of the slits 21a and 21b are determined
so as to match the distribution of air temperature as described
above, in the case in which the shape of the distribution of air
temperature differs in accordance with the position of the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20, the shapes of the
slits 21a and 21b may differ among the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plates 20. Moreover, although there are two
slits 21a and 21b in Embodiment 1, the number of the slits may be
freely determined to match the distribution state of the air
temperature.
[0052] Moreover, although the bottom-side lateral airflow direction
changing plate 9 in Embodiment 1 is disposed at the downstream side
of the heat transfer tube 52 of the rearward-tilted portion 50b,
the forward-tilted portion 50c, and the rearward-tilted portion
50d, the distance from the heat transfer tube 52 is great, and
relatively low temperature air and warm air may intermix, and thus
condensation tends not to be locally generated. Although the slits
are thus not arranged in the bottom-side lateral airflow direction
changing plate 9, in the case in which a distribution of air
temperature arises due to the arrangement relationship between the
heat transfer tubes 52 and the bottom-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 9 such that condensation easily occurs,
slits can be arranged also in the bottom-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 9.
Embodiment 2
[0053] Embodiment 2 is an example of arrangement of, rather than
the slits 21a and 21b of Embodiment 1, notches 22a and 22b having a
shape in which the upstream end of the slit opens. The notches 22a
and 22b are examples of openings similar to the slits 21a and 21b.
FIG. 6 is a view of a top-side lateral airflow direction changing
plate 20a according to Embodiment 2 as viewed from the side.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20a has two notches 22a and 22b that
decreases gradually in notch width from the airflow upstream to the
downstream in a region, in airflow downstream from the heat
transfer tube 52, contacted by air of relatively low temperature in
comparison to the periphery. The term "notch" means an opening
portion that opens up to an edge surface of the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20a. Although the slits 21a and
21b in the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate 20 of
Embodiment 1 are through holes that do not open to the end surface,
the notches 22a and 22b open up to the airflow upstream-side end
surface of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate
20a. The gradual decrease in the width of the notches means that
the fraction of opening surface area of the notches 22a and 22b per
virtual unit surface area gradually decreases toward the downstream
side. Further, also as described in Embodiment 1, the number of the
notches is freely selected, meaning that the number is not limited
to two, and may be one or three or more.
[0055] Due to configuration in this manner, cooling of the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20a during cooling
operation decreases, and the heat conduction within the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20a can be suppressed. In
comparison to the conventional technology, the risk of condensation
can thus be decreased, and even if condensation occurs, a decrease
in the condensation amount can be achieved.
[0056] Further, in a manner similar to that of Embodiment 1, width
of the notches 22a and 22b gradually decreases from the air flow
upstream side to the downstream side, and thus while decreasing the
risk of condensation, this has the effect of suppressing the
lowering of airflow direction change performance.
[0057] Moreover, although the upstream end of the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20a is the location at which
condensation tends to occur due to the air temperature distribution
being the most equalized, notching of the upstream end has the
effect of decreasing the risk of condensation.
Embodiment 3
[0058] Embodiment 3 is an example of an arrangement of, rather than
the slits 21a and 21b of Embodiment 1, multiple through holes 23
having different diameters in the airflow downstream regions of the
heat transfer tubes 52. The through holes 23 are examples of
openings. FIG. 7 is a view as seen from the side face of a top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20b according to
Embodiment 3.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20b has multiple circular through holes 23
of gradually decreasing diameters from the airflow upstream to the
downstream in the regions, of the airflow downstream from the heat
transfer tubes 52, where air flows of relatively low temperature in
comparison to the periphery. The gradual decrease in diameter of
the circular through holes 23 means that the opening fraction of
the through holes 23 per virtual unit surface area gradually
decreases toward the downstream side. Furthermore, although the
circular through holes 23 are disposed in two rows, the number of
rows of the arranged through holes in this case is also freely
selected, meaning the number is not limited to two rows, and may be
one row, or three or more rows.
[0060] Due to configuration in this manner, cooling of the top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20b decreases during the
cooling operation, and heat conduction within the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20b can be suppressed. Thus, the
risk of condensation can be decreased in comparison to the
conventional technology, and even if condensation occurs, the
amount of condensation can be decreased.
[0061] Furthermore, the opening fraction of the through holes 23
gradually decreases, in a manner similar to that of Embodiment 1,
from the airflow upstream to the downstream, and thus while
decreasing the risk of condensation, this has the effect of
suppressing the lowering of the airflow direction change
performance.
Embodiment 4
[0062] Embodiment 4 is an example of arrangement of, in place of
the slits 21a and 21b of Embodiment 1, multiple circular through
holes 24, each of the same diameter, in the airflow downstream
region from the heat transfer tubes 52. FIG. 8 is a view from the
side face of the top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate
20c according to Embodiment 4.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20c has multiple circular through holes 24
for which a distribution count gradually decreases from the airflow
upstream to the downstream in the regions, in the airflow
downstream from the heat transfer tubes 52, where air flows of
relatively low temperature in comparison to the periphery. Although
the diameters of the multiply arranged through holes 24 are the
same, the number (distribution fraction) decreases with distance in
the downstream direction. That is to say, the opening fraction of
the through holes 24 per virtual unit surface area gradually
decreases toward the downstream side. Further, although the
circular through holes 24 are arranged in two rows, the number of
rows is not limited to two rows, and the arrangement may be in one
row or three or more rows.
[0064] Due to configuration in this manner, the cooling of the
top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate 20c during the
cooling operation may decrease, and heat conduction within the
top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate 20c can be
suppressed. The risk of condensation can thus be decreased in
comparison to the conventional technology, and even if condensation
occurs, a decrease in the condensation amount can be achieved.
[0065] Furthermore, the distribution fraction of the number of the
through holes 24 gradually decreases from the airflow stream to the
downstream, and thus in a manner similar to that of Embodiment 1,
while decreasing the risk of condensation, this has the effect of
suppressing the lowering of the airflow direction change
performance.
Embodiment 5
[0066] Embodiment 5 is an example in which through holes 25 are
disposed over an entire surface rather than as the slits 21a and
21b of Embodiment 1. FIG. 9 is a view from the side of a top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20d according to
Embodiment 5.
[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20d has square-shaped through holes 25
evenly over the entire region thereof, forming a mesh pattern.
Further, the shape of the through holes 25 is not limited to a
square, and the shape may be freely selected. Also, the number of
such holes can be freely selected. Further, although the
arrangement density of the through holes 25 can be uniform overall
as shown in FIG. 9, the opening density of the through holes 25
preferably decreases gradually from the upstream side to the
downstream side. Reason being, even when the airflow is irregular,
since the air of the upstream side is cooled more than the air of
the downstream side, it is more effective for prevention of
condensation to increase the opening density at the upstream
side.
[0068] Due to configuration in this manner, even when the air
temperature distribution and the absolute humidity distribution are
irregular after passage of air through the heat exchanger 50, an
effect of preventing condensation on the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20d can be achieved. That is, even when
the flow of cooled air changes irregularly, the possibility of
condensation on the top-side lateral airflow direction changing
plate 20d can be decreased. Further, due to making the opening
density of the through holes 25 uniform over the entire top-side
lateral airflow direction changing plate 20d, whatever the air
temperature distribution and the absolute humidity distribution
after passage of air through the heat exchanger 50, such
configuration enables the achievement of an effect that is
prevention of condensation on the top-side lateral airflow
direction changing plate 20d.
Modified Example 1
[0069] Although examples are indicated in which the openings are
formed in the lateral airflow direction changing plate in the
embodiments, the direction of change of the airflow is not limited
to any particular direction. The airflow direction changing plate
of the present disclosure may change airflow in the lateral
direction, or may change airflow in the forward-rearward direction.
The present disclosure is applicable as long as an airflow
direction changing plate is disposed downstream from the
fin-and-tube type heat exchanger.
Modified Example 2
[0070] Although an edge surface shape of the opening portion is not
particularly limited, the opening portion preferably has a shape
that does not make the flow of air passing through the opening
portion unsteady. Although the opening portion may have a
right-angled end surface in the surface of the top-side lateral
airflow direction changing plate 20 as illustrated in FIG. 10A,
from the standpoint of not making the passage of air unsteady, the
opening portion preferably has an end surface that is bowed or
sloped as illustrated in FIGS. 10B to 10D. FIG. 10B is an example
of an end surface shape that is smoothly bowed, FIG. 10C is an
example of an end surface shape that is sloped, and FIG. 10D is an
example of an end surface shape in which faces are formed tilted
from both surface sides. Furthermore, the shape of the end surface
may be different for the upstream side versus the downstream
side.
Modified Example 3
[0071] The propeller fan is used as the air blower in Embodiments 1
to 5. The type of the air blower is not limited to this type. For
example, a crossflow fan may be used. Moreover, the propeller fan
may be an axial flow propeller fan or a diagonal flow propeller
fan. Alternatively, a centrifugal fan may be used.
[0072] The foregoing describes some example embodiments for
explanatory purposes. Although the foregoing discussion has
presented specific embodiments, persons skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in
an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. This detailed
description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and
the scope of the invention is defined only by the included claims,
along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are
entitled.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0073] The present disclosure can be used with advantage for an
indoor unit of an air conditioner.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0074] 1 Housing [0075] 2 Inlet opening [0076] 3
[0077] Outlet opening [0078] 4 Propeller fan [0079] 6 Drain pan
[0080] 7 Front-side vertical airflow direction changing plate
[0081] 8 Rear-side vertical airflow direction changing plate [0082]
9 Bottom-side lateral airflow direction changing plate [0083] 10
Fixing part [0084] 12 Connector [0085] 14 Fixing implement [0086]
15 Attaching part [0087] 16 Supporting part [0088] 20, 20a, 20b,
20c, 20d Top-side lateral airflow direction changing plate [0089]
21a, 21b Slit [0090] 22a, 22b Notch [0091] 23, 24, 25 Through hole
[0092] 28a, 28b, 28c, 28d Virtual rectangle [0093] 31 Dust
collection filter [0094] 32 Filter-fixing implement [0095] 40
Lateral airflow direction changing plate [0096] 41 Intermediate
temperature region [0097] 42 High temperature region [0098] 43 Low
temperature region [0099] 44 Airflow [0100] 45 Flowline [0101] 46
Airflow [0102] 47 Condensation region [0103] 50 Heat exchanger
[0104] 50a Forward-tilted portion [0105] 50b Rearward-tilted
portion [0106] 50c Forward-tilted portion [0107] 50d
Rearward-tilted portion [0108] 51 Fin [0109] 52 Heat transfer tube
[0110] 100 Indoor unit [0111] 101 Refrigerant tube [0112] 102
Outdoor unit [0113] 110 Air conditioner
* * * * *