JP2002295861A - Air conditioner and indoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce noise during operation, without having to increase to the size of an indoor unit. SOLUTION: Dimensions of respective parts are determined, such that the relation 1.5L1 <=L2 <=3.5L1 is satisfied, between an interval L1 from an indoor heat exchanger 23a to the circumferential surface of a tangential fan 25 and an interval L2 from the boundary of the indoor heat exchanger 23a and an indoor heat exchanger 23b to the circumferential surface of the tangential fan 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner that cools or heats indoor air to harmonize the indoor environment, and more particularly to an indoor unit that is a component of the air conditioner and that is installed indoors. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional indoor unit is shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing of an indoor unit, 2 denotes a suction surface (having a large number of slits), 3a, 3b and 3c denote indoor heat exchangers, 4 denotes a ventilation path, 5 denotes a tangential fan, and 6 denotes a tangential fan. The stabilizer 7 is an outlet.

The manner of operation of the indoor unit will be described. Air in the room flows from the suction surface 2 to the inside of the housing 1 by the action of the negative pressure generated in the ventilation passage 4 on the upstream side by the driving of the tangential fan 5. Sucked, heat exchanger 3
In the process of passing through a, 3b and 3c, it is cooled or heated and flows into the ventilation passage 4. The air flowing into the ventilation passage 4 is exhausted by the tangential fan 5 so that
Is blown into the room vigorously.

Here, the exhaust function of the tangential fan 5 will be described. When the tangential fan 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, a vortex, which is a circulating flow, is generated inside the tangential fan 5 by the action of the stabilizer 6 disposed in the vicinity. The air in the ventilation passage 4 is drawn into the tangential fan 5 by the action of the vortex, and is exhausted toward the outlet 7.

[0005]

The following problems have been pointed out in the air conditioner provided with the indoor unit configured as described above. The conventional indoor unit includes a plurality of indoor heat exchangers. For example, indoor air exchangers such as the indoor heat exchangers 3a and 3b that are arranged so as to surround the tangential fan 5 and that are adjacent to each other have the indoor air exchanged therein. When the air flows into the ventilation path 4 by the action of the negative pressure generated in the ventilation path 4, the air passing through each indoor heat exchanger is
It merges near those boundaries, and this part produces the maximum velocity distribution. Then, the blade of the rotating tangential fan 5 continuously cuts off the portion where the speed distribution is maximized, so that the indoor unit emits Nz.
Outstanding noise called sound is produced.

In order to eliminate the Nz noise, it is usually considered to separate the two indoor heat exchangers 3a and 3b far from the tangential fan 5. However, this requires an increase in the size of the indoor unit, which is preferable. Absent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the noise during operation while avoiding an increase in the size of an indoor unit.

[0008]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, an air conditioner and an indoor unit having the following structure are employed. That is, the air conditioner according to claim 1 has an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant heated or cooled by indoor air and outdoor air, and a refrigerant cooled or heated by outdoor air. An indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat with indoor air,
An air conditioner comprising: a tangential fan that causes indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchanger; and an indoor unit having a stabilizer disposed close to the tangential fan, wherein the air conditioner is disposed in front of the tangential fan. first between the distance L ₁ from the indoor heat exchanger to the circumferential surface of the tangential fan, the second indoor heat which is arranged above the first indoor heat exchanger and the first indoor heat exchanger that The relationship of 1.5L ₁ ≦ L ₂ is established between the boundary with the exchanger and the distance L ₂ from the peripheral surface of the tangential fan.

[0009] The air conditioner according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
The air conditioner according the relationship L ₂ ≦ 3.5 L _1, characterized in that the established between the distance L _1, L _2.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an indoor unit of an air conditioner, wherein an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat between indoor air and a refrigerant cooled or heated by outdoor air, and indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger. An indoor unit of an air conditioner having a tangential fan to flow and a stabilizer disposed in close proximity to the tangential fan, wherein the tangential fan is provided from a first indoor heat exchanger disposed in front of the tangential fan. circumference of the spacing L ₁ to the circumferential surface, from the boundary between the second indoor heat exchanger is disposed above the first indoor heat exchanger and the first indoor heat exchanger of the tangential fan A relationship of 1.5L ₁ ≤L ₂ is established between the distance L ₂ and the surface.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the third aspect, wherein a relationship of L ₂ ≦ 3.5L ₁ is established between the intervals L ₁ and L _2. It is characterized by being established.

In the present invention, the relationship of 1.5L ₁ ≦ L ₂ is given in the indoor unit, so that noise during operation can be reduced. This is because the noise level becomes extremely high when 1.5L ₁ > L ₂ (see FIG. 3).

In the indoor unit, L ₂ ≦ 3.5
By relationship L ₁ is given, while avoiding an increase in size of the indoor unit, thereby a low noise during operation. L ₂ >
3.5 L ₁ and becomes no problem noise level becomes, because the need to increase the size of the indoor unit occurs (see also FIG. 3).

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an air conditioner and an indoor unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of the air conditioner. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes an outdoor unit, 20 denotes an indoor unit, and 30 denotes a refrigerant pipe for circulating a refrigerant between both units. The outdoor unit 10 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 11 for exchanging heat between a refrigerant heated or cooled by indoor air and outdoor air, a compressor 12 for sending refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 or an indoor heat exchanger described later. And a propeller fan 13 for circulating outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger 11.

The indoor unit 20 includes indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23b, and 23c for exchanging heat between indoor air and a refrigerant cooled or heated by outdoor air, and an indoor heat exchanger 23a, 23b, It has a tangential fan 25 that flows through 23c, a stabilizer 26 that is disposed close to the tangential fan 25, and generates an exhaust action.

FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the indoor unit 20 in more detail. In the figure, the main components described above are illustrated together with the housing 21 of the indoor unit 20,
The suction surface 22, the ventilation path 24, and the outlet 27.

The suction surface 22 is formed on the front surface and the upper surface of the housing 21, and is provided with the indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23a from the indoor side.
The slits 3b and 23c are formed by a large number of slits so that air can be taken in favorably while making them inconspicuous.

The indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23b and 23c are arranged adjacent to the front and top surfaces of the housing 21 so as to surround the tangential fan 25. Regarding each indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger (first indoor heat exchanger) 23a is located in front of and closest to the tangential fan 25, and the indoor heat exchanger (second indoor heat exchanger). The heat exchanger 23b is positioned obliquely above and forward of the tangential fan 25, and the indoor heat exchanger 23c is positioned obliquely behind and above the tangential fan 25. Although three indoor heat exchangers are shown in the present embodiment, the indoor heat exchangers differ depending on the size and type of the indoor unit 20, and are not factors that greatly affect the present invention.

The ventilation passage 24 has three indoor heat exchangers 23a,
It is formed between 23 b and 23 c and the tangential fan 25 together with a casing 28 inside the housing 21.

The tangential fan 25 has a plurality of blades 25b arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction between the disks 25a at both ends, and the center of the disks 25a is pivotally supported. The driving motor (not shown) is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

The stabilizer 26 has substantially the same length as the tangential fan 25, and is located immediately above the outlet 27 and in parallel with and adjacent to the tangential fan 26.

The manner of operation of the air conditioner having the above-described components during a heating operation and a cooling operation will be described. First, during the heating operation, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 12 to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, sent to the indoor unit 20 through the refrigerant pipe 30, and
a, 23b and 23c. In the indoor unit 20, the indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23b, and 23c are supplied to the indoor air taken in by the tangential fan 25.
Heat is given from a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant passing through the chamber, and warm air is supplied to the room.

The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant exhausted to the indoor air is condensed and liquefied in the indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23b and 23c to become a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 in the outdoor unit 10 through the refrigerant pipe 30. In the outdoor unit 10,
The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 11 takes heat from the outdoor air taken in by the propeller fan 13. As a result, the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant evaporates and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. This is sent to the compressor 12 again, and the above process is repeated.

Next, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant flows through the refrigerant pipe 30 in a direction opposite to the above. First, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 passes through the refrigerant pipe 30 and is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11, and gives heat to outdoor air to be condensed and liquefied to become a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. . This high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant becomes low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant in the process of passing through an expansion valve (not shown), is sent to the indoor unit 20 through the refrigerant pipe 30, and flows in the indoor heat exchangers 23a, 23b, and 23c in this order. . In the indoor unit 20, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant takes heat from the indoor air to cool, and the refrigerant itself evaporates and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. This is sent again to the compressor 12, and the above process is repeated.

The most characteristic of the air conditioner configured as described above, a distance L ₁ from the indoor heat exchanger 23a to the circumferential surface of the tangential fan 25, the indoor heat exchanger 23a and the indoor heat exchanger 23b The dimension of each part is determined so that the relationship of 1.5L ₁ ≦ L ₂ ≦ 3.5L ₁ is established between the boundary between the boundary and the distance L ₂ from the peripheral surface of the tangential fan 25.

By establishing the above relationship between the distances L ₁ and L ₂ , the indoor unit 20 can reduce noise during operation without extremely increasing the external dimensions. Here, each value dimensionless by dividing by the distance L ₁ of the distance L ₂ between the peripheral surface of the indoor heat exchanger 23a and the tangential fans 25 and the peripheral surface of the indoor heat exchanger 23b and the tangential fan 25 FIG. 3 shows the result of measuring the magnitude of the noise generated by the indoor unit 20.

Looking at the measurement results in FIG. 3, L ₂ / L ₁ <1.
5, ie, when L ₂ <1.5L ₁ , the noise level becomes extremely high, and L ₂ / L ₁ > 3.5, ie, L ₂ > 3.5.
L ₁ when it comes to the level of noise is made without any problem. However, to make L ₂ > 3.5 L ₁ , indoor unit 2
It is necessary to increase the depth dimension of 0 and increase the size of the indoor unit 20.

In comparison with this, 1.5 ≦ L_Two/ L₁≦ 3.5,
That is, 1.5L₁≤L_Two≤3.5L ₁Noise level within the range
Bell is L_Two= 3.5L₁At least + 1dB (A)
It can be seen that it is suppressed to.

Therefore, according to the above air conditioner,
By arranging the indoor heat exchangers 23a and 23b and the tangential fan 25 so as to satisfy the above relationship at the same time, it is possible to reduce the noise during operation while avoiding an increase in the size of the indoor unit 20. it can.

In the present embodiment, the above-mentioned relationship is given in order to reduce noise during operation and avoid the increase in the size of the indoor unit 20. However, it is not necessary to consider the avoidance of the increase in the size of the indoor unit 20. In this case, the relationship 1.5L ₁ ≦ L ₂ may be simply given. In this case, at least noise reduction during operation can be realized.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By establishing the relationship of 1.5L ₁ ≦ L ₂ ≦ 3.5L _{1 in} the indoor unit, it is possible to reduce noise during operation while avoiding an increase in the size of the indoor unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an outline of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of the indoor unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a result of measuring a noise level of an indoor unit with respect to L ₂ / L ₁ .

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an internal configuration of a conventional indoor unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 outdoor unit 11 outdoor heat exchanger 20 indoor unit 23a indoor heat exchanger (first indoor heat exchanger) 23b indoor heat exchanger (second indoor heat exchanger) 25 tangential fan 30 refrigerant pipe

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kiyoshi Suenaga 2-1-1, Shinhama, Arai-machi, Takasago City, Hyogo Prefecture Inside the Takasago Research Laboratory, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuo Tominaga 2-1-1, Niihama, Araimachi, Takasago-shi, Hyogo Mitsubishi Heavy industry Co., Ltd. Takasago Research Laboratory F term (reference) 3L049 BB04 BC01 BD01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a refrigerant heated or cooled by indoor air and outdoor air, and a refrigerant cooled or heated by outdoor air and indoor air. An air conditioner comprising: an indoor heat exchanger that performs heat exchange, a tangential fan that causes indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit that has a stabilizer disposed in close proximity to the tangential fan, a distance L ₁ from the first indoor heat exchanger disposed in front of the tangential fan to the circumferential surface of the tangential fan, above the first indoor heat exchanger and the first indoor heat exchanger The distance L ₂ from the boundary with the second indoor heat exchanger to be disposed to the peripheral surface of the tangential fan
An air conditioner is characterized in that a relationship of 1.5 L ₁ ≦ L ₂ is established between the air conditioner and the air conditioner. 2. The distance L ₂ ≦ 3.5 between the distances L ₁ and L _2.
The air conditioner according to claim _{1, wherein} a relationship of L1 is established. 3. An indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat between indoor air and a refrigerant cooled or heated by outdoor air, a tangential fan for flowing indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger, and the tangential fan. a indoor unit of an air conditioner having a closely spaced stabilizer in a distance L ₁ from the first indoor heat exchanger disposed in front of the tangential fan to the circumferential surface of the tangential fan, the The distance L ₂ from the boundary between the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger disposed above the first indoor heat exchanger to the peripheral surface of the tangential fan
And 1.5 L ₁ ≦ L ₂ . 4. The indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein a relationship of L ₂ ≦ 3.5L ₁ is established between the distances L ₁ and L ₂ .