EP1403590A1 - Air-conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The air-conditioning device has an internal module with a first heat exchanger located within the air-conditioned room and coupled via electrical and refrigeration medium lines with an external module (9) on the outside of the room, provided with a fan (13) for directing an air flow across a second heat exchanger (17). The external module has a base (19) below the fan blades (15) for collection of condensate water (21), a partition (29) dividing the base into 2 sections (23,25) and preventing collection of condensate water in the section which does not lead to the drainage opening.

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner with an interior module provided in the room to be air-conditioned with a first heat exchanger and an outdoor module functionally connected to the indoor module via connecting lines, such as electrical lines, a refrigerant line or the like, which is provided outside the room to be air-conditioned in the outside atmosphere is. The outdoor module has a blower with blower blades for generating an air flow directed at a second heat exchanger, and a bottom provided below the blower for collecting dripping condensate. An outlet opening is provided in the floor through which the condensed water collecting on the floor can flow off the floor.

A generic air conditioner is known from EP 1660517. The air conditioner has an indoor module in a room to be air-conditioned and an outdoor module provided in the outside atmosphere. A condenser is provided in the outdoor module, which is cooled with condensation water to increase the output. The condensation water dripping from the condenser collects in a collecting container, which can be emptied via a closable outlet opening.

The object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that works reliably regardless of the climatic conditions in the outside atmosphere.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the air conditioner with the features of claim 1. According to the characterizing part of patent claim 1, a separating means is formed on a bottom of the outside module located in the outside atmosphere, which separates the bottom into two bottom sections. A first floor section directs the condensate flowing off to an outlet opening of the outdoor module. The release agent prevents condensation from accumulating in the second bottom section below the fan blades. The second bottom section below the fan blades is therefore inaccessible to the condensed water collecting in the first bottom section. This eliminates the risk that corresponding low outside temperatures, ice can form underneath the fan blades. This prevents contact between the fan blades and ice formed on the ground - which affects the operation of the air conditioner.

According to an advantageous exemplary embodiment, the separating means is designed as a dividing wall which separates the first bottom section from the second bottom section. This reliably prevents the condensed water from collecting below the fan blades.

According to a further embodiment, the separating means can be designed as an elevation which protrudes from the first bottom section. An upper side of the elevation forms the second bottom section below the fan blades.

It is advantageous if the second base section is also connected to the outlet opening. If necessary, condensate dripping onto the second floor section can thus be discharged via the outlet opening.

The outflow of the condensed water from the first or from the second bottom section by means of gravity can be improved by the bottom sections falling at an angle, in particular 2 °, towards the outlet opening.

Since, according to the invention, no ice forms below the fan blades, the overall height of the fan in the outdoor module can be significantly reduced. An outer circumferential line of the fan blades of the fan can approach the ground up to 2 to 3 mm. As a result, the outdoor module can be made compact with a low overall height.

It is particularly advantageous if the air conditioning device according to the invention can work both in a room cooling device and in a room heating operation. In room cooling operation, the second heat exchanger provided in the outdoor module works as a condenser. In this case, the outlet opening in the outdoor module is closed by means of a closure element. Condensed water is led from the indoor module to the outdoor module via a connecting line. In the outdoor module, the condensed water is distributed to the second heat exchanger in order to increase its condensing capacity. The dripping condensate is collected on the floor. Due to the low overall height of the blower, the condensed water collected on the bottom is absorbed by the blower blades and spun onto the second heat exchanger again. In contrast, in room heating mode, the second heat exchanger in the outdoor module works as an evaporator on which water condenses. In this case, the outlet opening in the outdoor module is open. As a result, the condensed water can drip from the second heat exchanger onto the first base section and flow out through the outlet opening. This prevents the risk of ice forming in the outdoor module at low outside temperatures.

Fig. 1

ein Innenmodul und ein Außenmodul des Klimageräts gemäß dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 2

in einer perspektivischen Ansicht das Außenmodul ohne Gehäuse;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht in Pfeilrichtung A aus der Figur 2 auf den Boden des Außenmoduls ohne den zweiten Wärmetauscher;

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht in Pfeilrichtung B aus der Figur 2 ohne den zweiten Wärmetauscher; und

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht entsprechend der Figur 4 gemäß dem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

an indoor module and an outdoor module of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment;

Fig. 2

in a perspective view the outdoor module without housing;

Fig. 3

a view in the direction of arrow A from Figure 2 on the bottom of the outdoor module without the second heat exchanger;

Fig. 4

a sectional view in the direction of arrow B from Figure 2 without the second heat exchanger; and

Fig. 5

a view corresponding to Figure 4 according to the second embodiment.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 shows an air conditioner with an indoor module 3 and an outdoor module 9. The indoor module 3 of the air conditioner is located in a room 1 to be air-conditioned. The outdoor module 9 is provided in the outside atmosphere 11. The two modules 3 and 9 are connected to one another via a wiring harness 7. The wiring harness 7 runs, for example, via an open window to the outer module 9. The outer module 9 can be arranged on an outer wall in the region of the window. For example, electrical lines, a refrigerant line or a condensate line 8 shown in FIG. 2 are bundled in the line strand 7. In a known manner, the indoor module has a first heat exchanger 5 and the outdoor module 9 has a second heat exchanger 17 on. The second heat exchanger 17 is shown in detail in FIG. 2. This shows that the second heat exchanger 17 is U-shaped. A blower 13 with blower blades 15 is arranged between the two legs of the U-shaped heat exchanger 17. The fan 13 is mounted on a bracket 18. A lower end of the bracket 18 is inserted in the bottom 19. An upper end of the bracket 18 is mounted on the outdoor module housing, not shown. The heat exchanger 17 is seated with a U-shaped end face on the bottom 19 of the outer module 9. The bottom 19, as shown in FIG 32 is in connection with the outside atmosphere 11. In FIGS. 2 to 4, a closure element 33 closes the outlet opening 32 in a closed manner. FIG. 2 also shows that a partition 29 is formed on the bottom 19. The partition wall 29 divides the floor 19 into a first floor section 23 and a second floor section 25. The second floor section 25 is delimited on the one hand by the partition wall 29 and by the drainage channel 31 according to FIG. It can be seen from FIG. 4 that an outer circumferential line 27 of the fan blades 15 is approximated to the second base section 25 to a slight distance a of approximately 3 mm.

A space cooling operation of the air conditioner 1 is described below: In the space cooling operation, the second heat exchanger 17 in the outdoor module 9 works as a condenser. The first heat exchanger 5 in the indoor module 3 works as an evaporator, on which condensed water from the room air condenses. The condensed water collects in the indoor module 3. The condensed water in the condensate line 8 shown in FIG. 2 is fed into the outdoor module 9 by means of a pump (not shown). The condensate line 8 opens into the outer module 9 in the area above the fan blades 15. The condensate water therefore drips onto the fan blades 15 in room cooling operation, which they fling in the direction of the U-shaped heat exchanger 17. As a result, the condensed water is distributed over the heat exchanger 17. In a known manner, a condensing capacity of the second heat exchanger 17 is increased. At the same time, the outlet opening 32 is closed by the closure element 33 in the room cooling operation of the air conditioning device. Dripping water therefore collects on the floor 19. The water level of the condensed water collected on the bottom 19 can thereby rise during the room cooling operation. When the water level approaches the outer circumferential line 27 of the fan blades 15, the water collected at the bottom 19 is taken up by means of the fan blades 15 and flung again against the second heat exchanger 17. The condensate dripping from the condensate water line 17 is consequently, on the one hand, directly captured by the fan blades 15 and distributed via the heat exchanger 17. On the other hand, the fan blades 15 can also pick up condensed water directly from the bottom 19 and distribute it via the heat exchanger 17.

In a room heating operation of the air conditioner, the first heat exchanger 5 in the indoor module 3 works as a condenser to heat the room 1. The second heat exchanger 17 in the outdoor module 9 works as an evaporator. In this case, water from the outside atmosphere condenses on the second heat exchanger 17. The condensation water 21 drips from the second heat exchanger 17 in the direction of the arrow to the second bottom section 23. The second floor section 23 directs the collected condensed water 21 to the drainage channel 31. This is not closed by the closure element 33 in the space heating mode. The condensed water 21 therefore flows out of the outdoor module 9 via the drain channel 31.

Because of the partition wall 29, the first bottom section 25 below the fan blades 15 is inaccessible to the water flowing off in the second bottom section 23. As a result, in the room heating operation of the air conditioning unit, there is no risk that condensation water 21 dripping from the heat exchanger 17 will reach the first floor section 25. At outside temperatures below freezing point, no ice can therefore form in the first bottom section 25. It is therefore advantageously avoided that ice comes into contact with the outer edges of the fan blades 15. Such contact would affect the operation of the fan 13.

FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment of the invention. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the two bottom sections 23, 25 are not divided by the partition wall 29. Rather, an elevation 30 protrudes from the first floor section 23. An upper side of the elevation 30 forms the second floor section 25. The second floor section 25 on the elevation 30 is thus inaccessible to the condensation water 21 flowing off in the first floor section 23.

Claims (8)

Air conditioning unit with an internal module (3) provided in the room to be air-conditioned (1) with a first heat exchanger (5) and an external module (1) that is functionally connected to the internal module (3) via connecting lines (7), such as electrical lines, a refrigerant line or the like. 9), which is provided outside the space to be air-conditioned (1) on the outside atmosphere (11), which outside module (9) is a blower (13) with blower blades (15) for generating an air flow directed towards a second heat exchanger (17) and one has bottom (19) provided below the blower (13) for collecting dripping condensate (21), in which there is an outlet opening (32) through which the condensed water (21) collecting on the bottom (19) can flow off the bottom, characterized in that a separating means (29, 30) is formed on the bottom (19) and divides the bottom (19) into two bottom sections (23, 25), from which the first bottom section (23) separates it flowing condensed water (21) leads to the outlet opening (32), which separating agent (29, 30) prevents an accumulation of condensed water (21) in the second bottom section (25). Air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating means is designed as a partition (29) which separates the first floor section (23) from the second floor section (25). Air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating means is designed as an elevation (30) protruding from the first floor section (23), on which the second floor section (25) is formed. Air conditioner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second bottom section (25) is connected to the outlet opening (32) for removing condensate present in the second bottom section (25). Air conditioner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the first bottom section (23, 25) drops at an angle (α) of in particular approximately 3 ° to the outlet opening (32). Air conditioner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an outer circumferential line (27) of the fan blades (15) is approximated to the second base section (25) up to a distance (a) of 2-3 mm. Air conditioner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet opening (32) is assigned a closure element (33) for closing the outlet opening (32). Air conditioner according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (17) works as a condenser in a room cooling operation of the air conditioner and as an evaporator in a room heating operation of the air conditioner, on which water condenses.

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