Patent Publication Number: US-11022327-B2

Title: Outdoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an upward-air-outlet-type outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, in which airflow generated by rotation of a fan flows through a heat exchanger. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In an upward-air-outlet-type outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, airflow generated by rotation of a fan flows through a heat exchanger to exchange heat between outside air and refrigerant. 
     To increase the capacity of the outdoor unit, it is desirable to increase the volume of the heat exchanger or increase the flow rate of air generated by the fan. However, the increase in the volume of the heat exchanger leads to increase in the installation area of the outdoor unit. 
     In a conventional outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, the volume of the heat exchanger is increased white the installation area of the outdoor unit is maintained (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). 
     In Patent Literature 1, the heat exchanger is disposed in each of four side surfaces of an upper part of the housing in a box shape having different widths in short-side and long-side directions, thereby increasing the volume of the heat exchanger while the installation area is maintained. In addition, wind speed distribution of airflow passing through the heat exchanger is uniform without drift, thereby reducing a pressure drop in the outdoor unit and fan noise. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-254565 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     As disclosed in Patent Literature 1, in the outdoor unit having different housing widths in the short-side and long-side directions, the distance between the heat exchanger and the fan differs between the long-side and short-side directions, which leads to nonuniform wind speed distribution of airflow passing through the heat exchanger. In particular, in the short-side direction, in which the distance between the heat exchanger and the fan is short, the wind speed through the heat exchanger is large, which leads to large passing wind resistance and increase in a pressure drop in the outdoor unit. In addition, the speed of wind sucked into the outdoor unit through air inlets on the side surfaces of the housing by the fan is not uniform and increases along the rotational direction of the fan, causing disorder in flow right before suction by the fan. This disorder leads to energy loss around vanes of the fan, and thus leads to increase in fan noise and increase in electric power consumption. 
     The present invention is intended to solve the problem as described above by providing an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that can achieve noise reduction of a fan and improved heat exchange efficiency. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing having a box shape and including an air inlet formed on a side surface and an air outlet formed on an upper surface, a fan provided to an upper side in the housing and configured to discharge, through the air outlet, outside air sucked through the air inlet, and a heat exchanger provided in the housing along the air inlet. The heat exchanger includes an upper heat exchanger disposed at an upper part of the housing and a lower heat exchanger disposed at a lower part of the housing. The housing has different widths in short-side and long-side directions in plan view. The width in the short-side direction at the upper part of the housing is longer than the width in the short-side direction at the upper part of the housing. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a width in a short-side direction is longer at an upper part of a housing than at a lower part of the housing. With this configuration, a sufficient air path can be provided in the upper part of the housing, which is close to a fan, without increasing the installation area of the outdoor unit. This configuration achieves uniform speed distribution of wind sucked into the housing through an air inlet on a side surface of the housing, thereby, achieving noise reduction of the fan and improved heat exchange efficiency. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, from which an upper surface of a housing is removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 3 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram for description of operation of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram for description of longitudinal sections of a conventional outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus. 
         FIG. 5 a    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 5 b    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating flow of wind inside the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram for description of longitudinal sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7 a    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 7 b    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 7 , 
         FIG. 8 a    is a perspective view illustrating exemplary installation of the outdoor units of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8 b    is a front view illustrating exemplary installation of the outdoor units of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing is removed. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram for description of cross sections and a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 10 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 10 c    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing is removed 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram for description of cross sections and a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 12 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 12 c    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing is removed 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram for description of cross sections and longitudinal sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 14 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 14 c    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 14 d    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 15 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 15   a.    
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating a state in which the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 15 a    and the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 15 b    are placed over each other. 
         FIG. 18  is an explanatory diagram of  FIG. 15   a.    
         FIG. 19  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 19 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 20  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 19   a.    
         FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating a state in which the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 19 a    and the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 19 b    are placed over each other. 
         FIG. 22  is an explanatory diagram of  FIG. 19   a.    
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing is removed. 
         FIG. 24  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 24 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 25  is a diagram for description of a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 25 a    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 26  is a diagram for description of a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 26 a    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 26 . 
         FIG. 27 a    is a perspective view illustrating exemplary installation of the outdoor units of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. 
         FIG. 27 b    is a front view illustrating the exemplary installation of the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited by the embodiments described below. The sizes of components in the drawings described below have a relation different from that in reality in some cases. In the following description, upper and lower directions, right and left directions, and front and back directions are defined in front view of an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an outdoor unit  1  of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, from which an upper surface of a housing  2  is removed. In  FIG. 1 , some parts of components in the outdoor unit  1  are illustrated with dotted lines for description. 
     The air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 1 has a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant is circulated between an indoor unit (not illustrated) and the outdoor unit  1 . The outdoor unit  1  includes the housing  2  serving as an external body, built-in devices  3  housed inside the housing  2 , a heat exchanger  5 , and an air-sending device  30 . 
     The housing  2  has a box shape including an upper surface, a lower surface, and four side surfaces, and has different widths in short-side and long-side directions in plan view. The width in the short-side direction is longer at an upper part than at a lower part. 
     An air inlet  4   a  is formed on each of the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 , and an air inlet  4   b  is formed on one of the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     The heat exchanger  5  is configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air, and includes an upper heat exchanger  5   a  and a lower heat exchanger  5   b  that are independent from each other. The upper heat exchanger  5   a  s provided in the housing  2  along the air inlet  4   a  formed on each side surface of the upper part of the housing  2 , and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is provided in the housing  2  along the air inlet  4   b  formed on the side surface of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     An upper side-surface panel  6   a  is provided on the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2  at an area on which the air inlet  4   b  is not formed, and a lower side-surface panel  6   b  is provided on the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2  at an area on which the air inlet  4   a  is not formed. A side-surface panel  6  (collectively referring to the upper side-surface panel  6   a  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b ) is a wind shielding member preventing airflow into the outdoor unit  1 . 
     An L-shaped (or chamfered in an L shape) support  7  is provided at each corner of the housing  2  to maintain the structure of the housing  2 . The side-surface panel  6  is fixed to the support  7  by screwing or fitting 
     The side-surface panel  6  corresponds to a “wind shielding plate” according to the present invention. 
     A top plate  8  and a bell mouth  11  are provided on the upper surface of the housing  2 . The top plate  8  covers an upper end of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and an air outlet  10  is formed on the top plate  8 . The bell mouth  11  is provided on an upper surface of the top plate  8 , surrounding the air outlet  10 , and includes an opening port communicated with the air outlet  10 . A circular guard  18  formed of bars disposed in a lattice shape is provided at the opening port of the bell mouth  11  to block the opening port of the bell mouth  11 . 
     A bottom plate  9  on which (part of) the built-in devices  3  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are placed is provided on the lower surface of the housing  2 . 
     The built-in devices  3  include refrigeration cycle devices, such as a compressor, a solenoid valve, and a heat transfer pipe (refrigerant pipe), included in the refrigeration cycle, and a drive control device configured to drive and control the refrigeration cycle devices and the air-sending device  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the air-sending device  30  includes a fan  12  configured to rotate about an axis line A along a height direction of the outdoor unit  1 , and a fan motor (drive unit)  13  configured to rotate the fan  12  coupled with the fan motor  13 . The fan motor  13  is supported by a motor support  14 . The air-sending device  30  is disposed in the housing  2  at a position shifted upward relative to the built-in devices  3  in the direction of the axis line A. In other words, the air-sending device  30  (fan  12 ) is provided on an upper side of the housing  2  (rather than a lower side) 
     The fan  12  is a propeller fan including a boss  15  disposed on the axis line A and a plurality (in this example, four) of vanes  16  provided to an outer periphery of the boss  15 . The fan  12  is provided facing to the air outlet  10 . The vanes  16  are separated from each other in a circumferential direction of the boss  15 . The fan motor  13  is disposed below the fan  12 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG.  3   a  is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along a direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 3 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 3 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate a positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  includes two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     The upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  corresponds to a “first upper heat exchanger” according to the present invention, and the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  corresponds to a “second upper heat exchanger” according to the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 b   , the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially C-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  has a flat plate shape and is disposed to serve as one side surface in the long-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 1 are related to an internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not define d by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 a   , a horizontal width La and a vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel  6   a  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 b   , a horizontal width la and a vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  disposed perpendicular to the lower heat exchanger  5   b . The vertical width lb is defined by the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b , facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b , in the short-side direction. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram for description of operation of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.  FIG. 4 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 4 . 
     The following describes the operation of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 1. 
     The outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 1 is an upward-air-outlet type in which winds (airflows) Va 1 , Va 2 , and Vb generated by rotation of the fan  12  flow to the inside of the housing  2  through the air inlets  4   a  and  4   b  on the side surfaces of the housing  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and then flows from the inside of the housing  2  to the outside of the housing  2  through the air outlet  10 . The wind Va 1  passes through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  across the short-side direction, the wind Va 2  passes through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  across the long-side direction, and the wind Vb passes through the lower heat exchanger  5   b.    
     The winds (airflows) each correspond to “outside air” according to the present invention. 
     While passing through a part at which the heat exchanger  5  is disposed, the winds flowing to the inside of the housing  2  exchanges heat with the refrigerant passing through a heat transfer pipe (not illustrated) of the heat exchanger  5 . The winds are prevented from flowing to the inside of the housing  2  through the side surfaces of the housing  2  where the side-surface panel  6  is disposed. 
     The winds Va 1  and Va 2  passing through the upper heat exchanger  5   a , which is closer to the fan  12 , flow to the inside of the housing  2  through a wider range in a rotational direction  17  of the fan  12  than the wind Vb passing through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  which is farther from the fan  12 . 
     With this configuration, the nonuniformity of speed distribution (hereinafter referred to as suction wind speed distribution) of wind sucked to the inside of the housing  2  through the air inlets  4   a  and  4   b  on the side surfaces of the housing  2  is smaller in the rotational direction of the fan  12  in an upstream region in which the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is disposed closer to the fan  12  than in a downstream region in which the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is disposed farther from the fan  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram for description of longitudinal sections of a conventional outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.  FIG. 5 a    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5 b    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b    are each a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of a housing  50  taken along the direction of an axis line A 0  of a fan  52 .  FIG. 5 a    is a schematic diagram of a section in the long-side direction including the axis line A 0  of the fan  52 .  FIG. 5 b    is a schematic diagram of a section in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  52 . 
     In the conventional output unit, the distance X 0  between the axis line A 0  of the fan  52  and an outer surface of an upper heat exchanger  51  in the long-side direction illustrated in  FIG. 5 a    is longer than the distance Y 0  between the axis line A 0  of the fan  52  and an outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  51  in the short-side direction illustrated in  FIG. 5 b   . In other words, the distance between vanes of the fan  52  and the upper heat exchanger  51  is shorter in the short-side direction than in the long-side direction. Consequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 a  and 5 b   , a wind V 0   a   1  in the short-side direction passes through the upper heat exchanger  51  faster than a wind V 0   a   2  in the long-side direction, and thus the wind speed through the upper heat exchanger  51  is not uniform. 
     As the distance between the vanes of the fan  52  and the upper heat exchanger  51  is shorter in the short-side direction than in the long-side direction, the wind V 0   a   1  passing through the upper heat exchanger  51  in the short-side direction flows further on the inner side of the vanes of the fan  52  than the wind V 0   a   2  passing through the upper heat exchanger  51  in the long-side direction. Moment is smaller and the efficiency of the vanes is lower on the inner side of the fan  52 , and thus the wind V 0   a   1  sucked in the short-side direction has an air-sending efficiency lower than that of the wind V 0   a   2  sucked in the long-side direction. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating flow of wind inside the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a wind Vb 1  as a part of the wind Vb having flowed in through the air inlet  4   b  and passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  flows toward the air outlet  10  above, whereas a wind Vb 2  as a part of the wind Vb flows on the bottom plate  9  as a lower surface of the outdoor unit  1  and then flows toward the air outlet  10  above along the lower side-surface panel  6   b  adjacent or facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b.    
       FIG. 7  is a diagram for description of longitudinal sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.  FIG. 7 a    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7 b    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    are each a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 7 a    is a schematic diagram of a section in the long-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 7 b    is a schematic diagram of a section in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the present Embodiment 1, the distance X between the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the long-side direction illustrated in  FIG. 7 a    and the axis line A of the fan is longer than the distance Y between the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the short-side direction illustrated in  FIG. 7 b    and the axis line A of the fan, and the distance Y is longer than the distance Y 0 . In this manner, the distance Y in the short-side direction is closer to the distance X in the long-side direction, and thus the wind speed through the heat exchanger  5  can be more uniform between the short-side direction and the long-side direction as compared to conventional cases. The distance X is equal to the distance X 0 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , the vertical width Lb of the upper part of the housing  2 , at which the upper heat exchangers  5   a  disposed closer to the fan  12  serve as the four side surfaces, is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2 , at which the lower heat exchanger  5   b  disposed farther from the fan  12  serves as one side surface. 
     In other words, in the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 1, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     This configuration leads to increase in a space around the fan  12  (the air path at the upper part of the housing  2 ), and allows the distance between the axis line A of the fan  12  and each upper heat exchanger  5   a  to be more uniform between the short-side direction and the long-side direction, thereby achieving more uniform suction wind speed distribution in the rotational direction of the fan  12 . 
     In conventional cases, as the distance between the vanes of the fan  52  and the upper heat exchanger  51  is shorter in the short-side direction than in the long-side direction (that is, Y 0 &lt;X 0 ) as illustrated in  FIG. 5 b   , the wind V 0   a   1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  51  in the short-side direction nonuniformly flows further on the inner side of the vanes of the fan  52  than the wind V 0   a   2  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  51  in the long-side direction. In the present Embodiment 1, however, as the distance Y between the axis line A of the fan  12  and the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the short-side direction is longer than the distance Y 0  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 b   , the wind Va 1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the short-side direction is likely to be sucked on the outer side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  as compared to conventional cases. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b   , as the wind Vb 2  as a part of the wind Vb 1  having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  flows on the bottom plate  9  as the lower surface of the outdoor unit  1  and then flows upward along the lower side-surface panel  6   b , the wind Vb 2  flows on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  where the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  is disposed in the inner side of the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , thereby achieving more uniform wind speed distribution in a radial direction of the fan  12 . 
     These effects collectively achieve the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency. As an example of the effects of the present Embodiment 1, when the short-side direction is increased by 105% to 110% relative to the diameter of the fan  12  in a 10-horsepower outdoor unit for a building, the fan  12  achieves improvements such as reduction of 8% in electric power consumption and reduction of 1.5 dB in noise. 
     As described above, in the present Embodiment 1, the vertical width Lb of the upper part of the housing  2 , which is closer to the fan  12 , is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2 , which is farther from the fan  12 . This configuration ensures the space around the fan  12  (the air path at the upper part of the housing  2 ) without increasing an installation area of the outdoor unit  1 , when the width of the bottom plate  9  in the short-side direction is set to be the vertical width of the housing  2 , thereby achieving noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency. In addition, the vertical width of the upper part of the housing  2 , which is increased as compared to conventional cases, can be used to increase the diameter of the fan  12 , thereby achieving an increased air volume of the outdoor unit  1 . 
       FIG. 8 a    is a perspective view illustrating, exemplary installation of the outdoor units  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.  FIG. 8 b    is a front view illustrating the exemplary installation of the outdoor units  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
     Next follows a description of advantages of installing the outdoor unit  1 . 
     The outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 1 is often used to achieve huge capacity and placed on the building roof of a building or a shop. The following describes an example in which the outdoor units  1  are disposed on a roof on which joists  24  protruding upward are installed as illustrated in  FIG. 8 a   . When the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 1 is installed such that the short-side direction is perpendicular to the long-side direction of the joist  24  in plan view, the upper heat exchanger  5   a  protrudes in a space above the joist  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 b   . This configuration allows the space above the joist  24 , which has not been conventionally used, to be utilized as a part of the installation area the outdoor unit  1 , and thus allows a space on the roof to be utilized effectively. 
     When installed between the partitioning joists  24  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 b   , the two outdoor units  1  can face to each other at a larger interval to avoid division of wind to be sucked through the air inlets  4   a  of the two outdoor units  1 , which leads to reduction in the electric power consumption of each fan  12 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     The following describes Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiment 1 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to that in Embodiment 1 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing  2  is removed.  FIG. 10  is a diagram for description of cross sections and a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.  FIG. 10 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10 c    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 10 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 10 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 10 a  and 10 b    each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 .  FIG. 10 c    is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 , and is a schematic diagram of a section of the housing  2  in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 2, the position of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  disposed in the lower part of the housing  2  is different from that in Embodiment 1 as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 b    and  10   c.    
     In the present Embodiment 2, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  includes the two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 b   , the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially U-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  has a flat plate shape and is disposed to serve as one side surface in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 2 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined, by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel  6   a  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the outer surface of the side-surface panel  6  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the lateral direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the length of the outer surface of the side-surface panel  6  disposed perpendicular to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction. 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 2, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 10 c   , the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on one side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction such that the outer surface of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  is. The outer surfaces of the side-surface panel  6  and the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  are aligned with each other in the short-side direction on the other side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction. 
     In the present Embodiment 2, similarly to Embodiment 1, the vertical width Lb of the upper part of the housing  2 , at which the upper heat exchangers  5   a  disposed closer to the fan  12  serve as the four side surfaces, is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2 , at which the lower heat exchanger  5   b  disposed farther from the fan  12  serves as one side surface. This configuration leads to increase in the space around the fan  12  (the air path at the upper part of the housing  2 ), and allows the distance between the axis line A of the fan  12  and each upper heat exchanger  5   a  to be more uniform between the short-side direction and the long-side direction, thereby achieving more uniform suction wind speed distribution in the rotational direction of the fan  12 . Consequently, the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency, is achieved, 
     In the present Embodiment 2, as the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  is as illustrated in  FIG. 10 c   , the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  moves further on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  than the wind Va 1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2 . This configuration achieves more uniform wind speed distribution of upward airflow passing through the heat exchanger  5  in the short-side direction. 
     As the outer surface of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted on the inner side of the housing  2  as compared to Embodiment 1, the flow rate of airflow toward the fan  12  through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is larger than the flow rate of airflow on the lower surface of the outdoor unit  1 . Consequently, airflow on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  increases as compared to Embodiment 1, which leads to more uniform flow right before suction by the fan  12 , thereby reducing disorder to achieve noise reduction of the fan  12 . 
     Embodiment 3 
     The following describes Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 and 2 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 and 2 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing  2  is removed,  FIG. 12  is a diagram for description of cross sections and a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.  FIG. 12 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 12 c    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 12 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 12 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b    each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 .  FIG. 12 c    is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 , and is a schematic diagram of a section of the housing  2  in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to, the present Embodiment 3, the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the lower part of the housing  2  is disposed at a position different from that in Embodiment 2 as illustrated in  FIG. 12   c.    
     In the present Embodiment 3, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger Sc includes the two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 b    the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially U-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  has a flat plate shape and is disposed to serve as one side surface in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 3 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  sewing as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel ea facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the side-surface panel  6  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the lateral direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the length of the outer surface of the side-surface panel  6  disposed perpendicular to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction. 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 3, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 c   , the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on one side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction such that the outer surface of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is disposed further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  is. The outer surfaces of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  and the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on the other side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction such that the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  is disposed further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  is. 
     In the present Embodiment 3, similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2, the vertical width Lb of the upper part of the housing  2 , at which the upper heat exchangers  5   a  disposed closer to the fan  12  serve as the four side surfaces, is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2 , at which the lower heat exchanger  5   b  disposed farther from the fan  12  serves as one side surface. This configuration leads to increase in the space around the fan  12  (the air path at the upper part of the housing  2 ), and allows the distance between the axis line A of the fan  12  and each upper heat exchanger  5   a  to be more uniform between the short-side direction and the long-side direction, thereby achieving more uniform suction wind speed distribution in the rotational direction of the fan  12 . Consequently, the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency, is achieved. 
     In the present Embodiment 3, as the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the upper heat, exchanger  5   a   2  is as illustrated in  FIG. 12 c   , the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  moves further on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  than the wind Va 1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2 . This configuration achieves more uniform wind speed distribution of upward airflow passing through the heat exchanger  5  in the short-side direction. 
     The wind Vb 1  as a part, of the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  flows on the bottom plate  9  on which the built-in devices  3  such as a compressor is placed, and then flows upward along the lower side-surface panel  6   b . When the lower side-surface panel  6   b  is shifted on the inner side of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 , the wind Vb 1  as the part of the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  moves further on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  than the wind Va 1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . This configuration achieves more uniform wind speed distribution of upward airflow passing through the heat exchanger  5  in the short-side direction in the present Embodiment 3 than that in Embodiment 2. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The following describes Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 3 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 3 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing  2  is removed.  FIG. 14  is a diagram for description of cross sections and longitudinal sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.  FIG. 14 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14 c    is a schematic diagram of section C-C in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 14 d    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 14 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 14 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b    each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 .  FIGS. 14 c  and 14 d    are each a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction parallel to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 14 c    is a schematic diagram of a section in the long-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 14 d    is a schematic diagram of a section in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 4, the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the side-surface panel  6  serving the lower part of the housing  2  have shapes different from those in Embodiment 3 as illustrated in  FIG. 14   b.    
     In the present Embodiment 4, as illustrated in  FIG. 14 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  includes the two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 b   , the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  is substantially inverse-J-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as both surfaces in the long-side direction and one side surface in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 4 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel  6   a  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  in the long-side direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction, 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 4, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 14 d   , the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on one side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction, and the outer surface of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is disposed further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  is. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 c   , the outer surfaces of each of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are aligned with each other in the long-side direction on both side surfaces of the outdoor unit  1  in the long-side direction. 
     In the present Embodiment 4, as the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  is as illustrated in  FIG. 14 d   , the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  moves further on the inner side of the vanes  16  of the fan  12  than the wind Va 1  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a   2 . This configuration achieves more uniform wind speed distribution of upward airflow passing through the heat exchanger  5  in the short-side direction, which leads to more uniform flow right before suction by the fan  12 , thereby reducing disorder to achieve noise reduction of the fan  12 . Consequently, the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency, is achieved. 
     The distance between the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the axis line A of the fan  12  in the long-side direction is so long that the wind Va 2  having passed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the wind Vb having passed through the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are mixed in the radial direction of the fan  12  before being sucked by the fan  12  (in other words, the winds are made uniform). Thus, the housing width is increased only in the short-side direction in the present Embodiment 4. 
     In the present Embodiment 4, the lower heat exchangers  5   b  are disposed in three of the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2  and thus mounted in a large volume as compared to Embodiments 1 to 3 in which the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is disposed only in one side surface. Consequently, an increased capacity can be achieved, and a pressure drop in the outdoor unit  1  can be reduced due to an increased area through which airflow passes, which leads to reduction of power necessary for air-sending. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The following describes Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 4 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 4 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.  FIG. 15 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 15 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 15 a   .  FIG. 17  is a diagram of a state in which the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 15 a    and the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 15 b    are placed over each other.  FIG. 18  is an explanatory diagram of  FIG. 15   a.    
       FIGS. 15 a  and 15 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 15 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 15 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 15 to 18  each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 5, the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  serving as the upper part of the housing  2  have shapes different from those in Embodiment 4 as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 to 18 , whereas any other configuration is the same. 
     In the present Embodiment 5, as illustrated in  FIG. 15 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  includes the two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 b   , the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  is substantially inverse-J-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as both surfaces in the long-side direction and one side surface in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 5 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel  6   a  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 15 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  in the long-side direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction. 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 5, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  includes a first straight part  20  disposed in the long-side direction of the housing  2 , a second straight part  21  disposed in the short-side direction of the housing  2 , and corners  22  each between the first straight part  20  and the second straight part  21 . Angles  23  between the first straight part  20  and the second straight part  21  are each an obtuse angle. The upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  has the same configuration as that of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , shift of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  from the loser heat exchanger  5   b  changes in the long-side direction and the short-side direction. Specifically, the upper heat exchanger  5   a  tilts relative to the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction and the short-side direction, the first straight part  20  tilts relative to the long-side direction of the lower part of the housing  2 , and the second straight part  21  tilts relative to the short-side direction of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrates the distance between the axis line A of the fan  12  and the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a . The distance XR between the axis line A of the fan  12  and an outer surface of the corner  22  of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is short as compared to Embodiments 1 to 4. With this configuration, the distance between the fan  12  and the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is more uniform in the rotational direction of the fan  12 , thereby achieving a more uniform wind speed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and thus more uniform suction wind speed distribution in the rotational direction of the fan  12 . Consequently, the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency, is achieved. 
     Embodiment 6 
     The following describes Embodiment 6 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 5 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 5 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 19  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.  FIG. 19 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 19 .  FIG. 19 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 19 .  FIG. 20  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 19 a   .  FIG. 21  is a diagram of a state in which the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 19 a    and the section schematic diagram in  FIG. 19 b    are placed over each other.  FIG. 22  is an explanatory diagram of  FIG. 19   a,    
       FIGS. 19 a  and 19 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 19 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 19 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 19 to 22  each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 6, the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  serving as the upper part of the housing  2  have shapes different from those in Embodiment 5 as illustrated in  FIGS. 19 to 22 , whereas any other configuration is the same. 
     In the present Embodiment 6, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  includes the two upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  each substantially L-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19 b   , the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  is substantially inverse-J-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as one side surface in the long-side direction and both side surfaces in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 6 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  and the upper side-surface panel  6   a  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . The vertical width Lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 19 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  in the long-side direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction. 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 6 the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  includes the first straight part  20  disposed in the long-side direction of the housing  2 , the second straight part  21  disposed in the short-side direction of the housing  2 , and the corners  22  each between the first straight part  20  and the second straight part  21 . The angles  23  between the first straight part  20  and the second straight part  21  are each an obtuse angle. The upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  has the same configuration as that of the upper heat exchanger  5   a   1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 21 , shift of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  from the lower heat exchanger  5   b  changes only in the long-side direction. Specifically, the upper heat exchanger  5   a  tilts relative to the lower part of the housing  2  only in the long-side direction, and the first straight part  20  is parallel to the long-side direction of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
       FIG. 22  illustrates the distance between the axis line A of the fan  12  and the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a . The distance XR between the axis line A of the fan  12  and the outer surface of the corner  22  of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is short as compared to Embodiments 1 to 4. With this configuration, the distance between the fan  12  and the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is more uniform in the rotational direction of the fan  12 , thereby achieving a more uniform wind speed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and thus more uniform suction wind speed distribution in the rotational direction of the fan  12 . Consequently, the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency is achieved. 
     As the distance X 2  between the axis line A of the fan  12  and each of the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchangers  5   a   1  and  5   a   2  is short as illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the wind speed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the short-side direction increases when the upper heat exchangers  5   a  facing to each other tilt in the short-side direction as in Embodiment 5. This configuration prevents the wind speeds through the upper heat exchangers  5   a  from being more uniform. 
     To solve this problem, in the present Embodiment 6, the upper heat exchangers  5   a  tilt not in the short-side direction but only in the long-side direction as illustrated in  FIG. 22  so that the distance X 2  between the axis line A of the fan  12  and the outer surface of each upper heat exchanger  5   a  is sufficient enough to prevent increase in the wind speeds through the upper heat exchangers  5   a  in the short-side direction. Consequently, the wind speeds through the upper heat exchangers  5   a  can be more uniform, thereby achieving the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency. 
     Embodiment 7 
     The following describes Embodiment 7 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 6 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 6 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention, from which the upper surface of the housing  2  is removed.  FIG. 24  is a diagram for description of cross sections of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.  FIG. 24 a    is a schematic diagram of section A-A in  FIG. 24 .  FIG. 24 b    is a schematic diagram of section B-B in  FIG. 24 . 
       FIGS. 24 a  and 24 b    are each a schematic diagram of a cross section of the housing  2  taken along the direction orthogonal to the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 .  FIG. 24 a    is a section schematic diagram of the upper part of the housing  2 .  FIG. 24 b    is a section schematic diagram of the lower part of the housing  2 .  FIGS. 24 a  and 24 b    each illustrate the fan  12  to indicate the positional relation between the fan  12  and the heat exchanger  5 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 7, the upper heat exchanger  5   a  serving as the upper part of the housing  2  is not divided in two but integrally formed as illustrated in  FIGS. 23 and 24 . 
     In the present Embodiment 7, as illustrated in  FIG. 24 a   , the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the upper side-surface panel  6   a  substantially L-shaped in plan view, and the supports  7  each substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . The upper heat exchanger  5   a  is substantially rectangular in plan view and disposed to serve as the four side surfaces of the upper part of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 b    the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  substantially L-shaped in plan view serve as the side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . The lower heat exchanger  5   b  is substantially inverse-J-shaped in plan view and disposed to serve as one side surface in the long-side direction and both side surfaces in the short-side direction among the four side surfaces of the lower part of the housing  2 . 
     Housing widths at the upper and lower parts of the housing  2  of the outdoor unit  1  according to the present Embodiment 7 are related to the internal air path of the outdoor unit  1  as described later, and thus are defined by any component serving as the air path. Specifically, the housing widths are defined by the lengths of outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a , the lower heat exchanger  5   b , the upper side-surface panel  6   a , and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  serving as the side surfaces of the housing  2 , or by the distance between the outer surfaces of the side surfaces facing to each other, but are not defined by each distance between the supports  7  at the corners of the housing  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 a   , the horizontal width La and the vertical width Lb have different lengths in the section at the upper part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width La is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width Lb is the housing width of the upper part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width La in the section at the upper part of the housing  2  is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the side-surface panel  6  facing to the upper heat exchanger  5   a . The vertical width Lb is defined by the length of the outer surface of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  in the short-side direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 24 b   , the horizontal width la and the vertical width lb have different lengths in the section at the lower part of the housing  2 . The horizontal width la is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the long-side direction, and the vertical width lb is the housing width of the lower part of the housing  2  in the short-side direction. 
     The horizontal width la in the section at the lower part of the housing  2  is defined by, the length of the outer surface of the lower side-surface panel  6   b  in the long-side direction. The vertical width lb is defined by the distance between the outer surfaces of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  and the lower side-surface panel  6   b  facing to the lower heat exchanger  5   b  in the short-side direction. 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 7, the horizontal widths La and la are longer than the vertical widths Lb and lb, and the vertical width Lb is longer than the vertical width lb. The horizontal width La is equal to the horizontal width la. 
     Although the upper heat exchanger  5   a  according to Embodiments 1 to 6 is divided into two in the rotational direction of the fan  12 , the upper heat exchanger  5   a  according to the present Embodiment 7 is integrally formed in the rotational direction  17  of the fan  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 24 a   . When the heat exchanger  5  is divided, the wind speed distribution is not uniform in the rotational direction of the fan  12  between a region surrounded by the heat exchanger  5  and a region not surrounded by the heat exchanger  5 . Thus, the integral formation can provide more uniform wind speed through the upper heat exchanger  5   a . Consequently, the suction wind speed distribution can be more uniform in the rotational direction of the fan  12 , thereby achieving the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus, which can achieve noise reduction of the fan  12  and improved heat exchange efficiency. 
     Embodiment 8 
     The following describes Embodiment 8 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 7 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 7 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 25  is a diagram for description of a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention.  FIG. 25 a    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 25 . 
       FIG. 25 a    is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 , and is a schematic diagram of a section of the housing  2  in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 8, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 a   , an intermediate plate  25  is provided between the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on one side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 25 a   , the outer surfaces of the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the short-side direction on one side surface of the outdoor unit  1  in the short-side direction, and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  is shifted further on the inner side of the housing  2  than the upper heat exchanger  5   a  is. The intermediate plate  25  preventing airflow from the outside to the inside of the outdoor unit  1  is provided between the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b.    
     The intermediate plate  25  corresponds to a “second wind shielding plate” according to the present invention. 
     When the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  are disposed at positions shifted from each other as in the present Embodiment 8, a gap is provided at a coupled part (joint) between the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b , and some airflow passes through the gap instead of passing through the heat exchanger  5 . 
     To avoid this problem, the intermediate plate  25  is provided between the upper heat exchanger  5   a  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b , which are vertically divided from each other, thereby preventing leakage through, the gap to maintain a heat exchange capacity of the outdoor unit  1 . 
     Embodiment 9 
     The following describes Embodiment 9 of the present invention. Any duplicate description of Embodiments 1 to 8 will be (partially) omitted, and any part identical to or equivalent to those in Embodiments 1 to 8 is denoted by an identical reference sign. 
       FIG. 26  is a diagram for description of a longitudinal section of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.  FIG. 26 a    is a schematic diagram of section D-D in  FIG. 26 .  FIG. 27 a    is a perspective view illustrating exemplary installation of the outdoor units  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.  FIG. 27 b    is a front view illustrating the exemplary installation of the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. 
       FIG. 26 a    is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal section of the housing  2  taken along the direction of the axis line A of the fan  12 , and is a schematic diagram of a section of the housing  2  in the short-side direction including the axis line A of the fan  12 . 
     In the outdoor unit  1  of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present Embodiment 9, each support  7  at the corner of the housing  2  is continuous from the top plate  8  to the bottom plate  9  in the height direction (vertical direction) as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , and a width lc of the bottom plate  9  in the short-side direction is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2  as illustrated in  FIG. 26   a.    
     When the outdoor units  1  are installed close to the joist  24  on the roof of a building or other structures as illustrated in  FIG. 27 a   , the joist  24  potentially prevents airflow into each lower heat exchanger  5   b , which leads to degradation of heat exchange performance. 
     However, when the width lc of the bottom plate  9  in the short-side direction is longer than the vertical width lb of the lower part of the housing  2 , a gap is provided between the joist  24  and the lower heat exchanger  5   b  at installation of the outdoor unit  1  as illustrated in  FIG. 27 b    to allow flow of the wind Vb 2  passing through a part of the lower heat exchanger  5   b  placed lower than the height of the joist  24 , thereby improving the heat exchange performance. The above-described configuration allows simplification of the structure of the housing  2  through integrated formation of the support  7  each in the height direction. This integration facilitates reduction of manufacturing cost and assembly. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       1  outdoor unit  2  housing  3  built-in device  4   a  air inlet  4   b  air inlet  5  heat exchanger  5   a  upper heat exchanger  5   a   1  upper heat exchanger  5   a   2  upper heat exchanger  5   b  lower heat exchanger  6  side-surface panel  6   a  upper side-surface panel  6   b  lower side-surface panel  7  support  8  top plate  9  bottom plate  10  air outlet  11  bell mouth  12  fan  13  fan motor  14  motor support  15  boss  16  vane  17  rotational direction (of the fan)  18  guard  20  first straight part  21  second straight part  22  corner (of the upper heat exchanger)  23  angle  24  joist  25  intermediate plate  30  air-sending device  50  housing  51  upper heat exchanger  52  fan