Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, more specifically, to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in which a blower chamber is disposed above a machine chamber having a heat exchanger and a compressor. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    As one of an air conditioner, there is a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit. For example, as described in Japanese Patent No. 3710874, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a horizontally elongated rectangular parallelepiped housing, and the interior of the housing is partitioned into a machine chamber having a heat exchanger and a compressor, and a blower chamber including a blower. The machine chamber is disposed in the lower portion of the housing, the blower chamber is disposed in the upper portion of the machine chamber, and the air blowing port of the blower is disposed on the top surface of the housing. 
         [0005]    When viewed a lateral direction of the housing from front, a left half space of the machine chamber is defined as a left machine chamber, a right half space of the machine chamber is defined as a right machine chamber, the left half space of the blower chamber is defined as a left blower chamber, and the left half space of the blower chamber is defined as a right blower chamber, a first heat exchanger is disposed in the left machine chamber, a second heat exchanger is disposed in the right machine chamber, a first blower is disposed in the left blower chamber, and a second blower is disposed in the right blower chamber. 
         [0006]    In Japanese Patent No. 3710874, both the first and the second heat exchangers are formed in a U-shape, and are disposed on a base plate (referred to as a chassis) so that open ends thereof face each other. The compressor is disposed in the machine chamber so as to be surrounded by two heat exchangers. 
         [0007]    An air blowing port of the first blower and an air blowing port of the second blower are respectively disposed at symmetrical positions on the top surface of the housing with a center line in the lateral direction of the housing being interposed therebetween. Furthermore, the air blowing port of the first blower is disposed at the center in the front, rear, right and left of the left blower chamber, and the air blowing port of the second blower chamber is disposed at the center in the front, rear, right and left of the second blower chamber. 
         [0008]    However, in a case where the blower is disposed in this manner, the amount of air passing through a front portion, a side portion, and a rear portion of the heat exchanger is not uniform, and a portion of the wind is wasted without being able to sufficiently exhibit possible performance of the blower. Meanwhile, although in order to increase the output of the outdoor unit, it is required to further enlarge the size of the chassis as the capacity of the heat exchanger increases, in a case where only the heat exchanger is enlarged in size without changing the size and arrangement of the blower fan, there is a possibility to further decrease the amount of air per unit area passing through between fins of the heat exchanger at the same rotation speed. In addition, although it is required to increase the rotation speed of the motor in order to obtain the same amount of air, current consumption inevitably increases as the rotation speed increases. 
         [0009]    In order to solve the problem described above, a method of enlarging the size (enlarge in diameter) of the blower fan according to the size of the housing may be considered. However, the enlarging of the size of the blower fan causes the load on the motor and power consumption to increase, and thus this method is not preferable. In addition, when the size of the motor is increased together, it is required to reinforce the housing side, so that it is inevitable to increase an assembly man-hour and to increase a cost. In any case, it is not changed that the wind of the blower is partially wasted. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an outdoor unit of an air conditioner capable of obtaining stable air blowing performance without enlarging a blower fan and decreasing the amount of air per unit area (wind velocity distribution) passing through the heat exchanger even if the capacity of the heat exchanger is enlarged by optimizing a relative arrangement and a configuration of a heat exchanger and a blower and effectively utilizing the wind of the blower which is conventionally wasted. 
         [0011]    An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an aspect of the present invention is the outdoor unit of an air conditioner including a housing, in which an interior of the housing is partitioned into a machine chamber having a heat exchanger and a compressor, and a blower chamber disposed at an upper portion of the machine chamber and having a blower, the left half of the blower chamber is defined as the left blower chamber and the right half thereof is defined as the right blower chamber with a center line in a lateral direction of the housing being interposed therebetween, a first blower is disposed in the left blower chamber, a second blower is disposed in the right blower chamber, an air blowing port of the first blower and an air blowing port of the second blower are symmetrically disposed on a top surface of the housing with the center line in the lateral direction of the housing being interposed therebetween, the rotation shaft of a fan in the first blower is disposed closer to the center line in the lateral direction of the housing than the center line in a lateral direction of the left blower chamber, and the rotation shaft of a fan in the second blower is disposed closer to the center line in the lateral direction of the housing than the center line in a lateral direction of the right blower chamber. 
         [0012]    As a more preferred aspect, when the center line in the lateral direction of the housing is defined as L, distances between the center line L and outer circumferences of each of the air blowing ports are defined as G 1 , and a distance between a side surface of the housing and the outer circumference of the air blowing port is defined as G 2 , each of the air blowing ports is disposed at positions that satisfy G 1 &lt;G 2 . 
         [0013]    As a further preferred aspect, cylindrical bell mouths are disposed on the outer circumferences of each of the first blower and the second blower, and when the inner diameter of the bell mouth is defined as φ 1  and the outer diameter of the bell mouth is defined as φ 2 , the distance G 1  satisfies G 1 ≧(φ 2 −φ 1 )/2. 
         [0014]    According to the aspect of the present invention, the air blowing port of the first blower and the air blowing port of the second blower are disposed close to each other in a possible range with the center line L in the lateral direction of the housing interposed therebetween. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the wind of the blower which is conventionally wasted. As a result, since the amount of air and the wind velocity distribution per unit area passing through the heat exchanger at the same rotation speed increase, it is possible to enhance the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor unit, without enlarging the blower. In addition, it is possible to reduce the current consumption of the motor for obtaining the same amount of air, and to enhance the operation efficiency of the outdoor unit, without enlarging the blower. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a front surface side of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an external perspective view of a rear surface side of the outdoor unit of an air conditioner. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an external perspective view illustrating a state of a front surface side of a front pillar attached to a base panel, a front beam, and a side panel. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are schematic diagrams for describing a positional relationship of an air blowing port of a blower,  FIG. 5A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state viewed from a plane side, and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state viewed from a front view side. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic diagrams illustrating housing specifications of an application example and a comparative example. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates wind velocity simulation data of the application example and the comparative example. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates wind velocity simulation data of the application example and the comparative example. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Next, although embodiments of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
         [0024]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , an outdoor unit  1  of an air conditioner includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing horizontally elongated in a lateral direction (lateral direction in  FIG. 1 ). An interior of the housing  2  is partitioned into a machine chamber MC having a heat exchanger  3  and a compressor (not illustrated), and a blower chamber FC having a blower  4 . In the embodiment, the machine chamber MC is disposed at a lower portion in the housing  2 , and the blower chamber FC is disposed above the machine chamber MC. 
         [0025]    When viewing the lateral direction of the housing  2  in front surface in  FIG. 1 , a left half space of the machine chamber MC is defined as a left machine chamber ML, a right half space thereof is defined as a right machine chamber MR, a left half space of the blower chamber FC is defined as a left blower chamber FL, and a right half space of the blower chamber FC is defined as a right blower chamber FR. A first heat exchanger  3 L is disposed in the left machine chamber ML of the housing  2 , and a second heat exchanger  3 R is disposed in the right machine chamber MR. 
         [0026]    In addition, a first blower  4 L is disposed in the left blower chamber FL, a second blower  4 R is disposed in the right blower chamber FR, and a first air blowing port  11 L of the first blower  4 L and a second air blowing port  11 R of the second blower  4 R are respectively disposed on an upper surface of the housing  2 . 
         [0027]    The housing  2  is provided with a rectangular base panel  20  installed on the surface to be installed, a left side panel  30 L vertically disposed at a left side end of the base panel  20 , a right side panel  30 R vertically disposed at a right side end of the base panel  20 , a front beam  40 F (refer to  FIG. 4 ) hung horizontally between a front end of the left side panel  30 L and a front end of the right side panel  30 R, and a rear beam  40 R (refer to  FIG. 4 ) hung horizontally between a rear end of the left side panel  30 L and a rear end of the right side panel  30 R, as a basic structure. 
         [0028]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the base panel  20  is formed by pressing or welding a steel plate, and is formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape. An engagement portion not illustrated in which a panel is screwed to the circumferential edge of the base panel  20  is substantially vertically disposed over the entire circumference. 
         [0029]    On the base panel  20 , a front leg  22  and a rear leg  23  are formed when the outdoor unit  1  is installed on the surface to be installed (not illustrated). The front leg  22  is bent substantially at right angle from a front end side (front side in  FIG. 4 ) toward the lower side of the base panel  20 , and is formed continuously over the right and left. The rear leg  23  is bent substantially at right angle from a rear end side (rear side in  FIG. 4 ) toward the lower side of the base panel  20 , and is formed continuously over both the right and left ends. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 3  together, the heat exchanger  3  includes two heat exchanger units of a first heat exchanger  3 L and a second heat exchanger  3 R. The first heat exchanger  3 L includes a left front portion  31 L disposed along a left front end of the base panel  20 , a left side portion  32 L disposed along the left side end of the base panel  20 , and a left rear portion  33 L disposed along a left rear end of the base panel  20 , and is formed in a U-shape in a top view (paper direction in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0031]    The first heat exchanger  3 L is fixed to the base panel  20  via a first end plate  34 L (hereinafter, also referred to as a front end portion  34 L) attached to an end portion of the left front portion  31 L, and a second endplate  35 L (hereinafter, also referred to as a rear end portion  35 L) attached to an end portion of the left rear portion  33 L. 
         [0032]    The second heat exchanger  3 R includes a right front portion  31 R disposed along a right front end of the base panel  20 , a right side portion  32 R disposed along the right side end of the base panel  20 , and a right rear portion  33 R disposed along aright rear end of the base panel  20 , and is formed in a U-shape in a top view (paper direction in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0033]    The second heat exchanger  3 R is fixed to the base panel  20  via a third end plate  34 R (hereinafter, also referred to as a front end portion  34 R) attached to the end portion of the right front portion  31 R, and a fourth endplate  35 R (hereinafter, also referred to as a rear end portion  35 R) attached to the end portion of the right rear portion  33 R. 
         [0034]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , since basic shapes of the left side panel  30 L and the right side panel  30 R are the same as each other, and these panels are symmetrically disposed, hereinafter, a configuration of the left side panel  30 L will be described. 
         [0035]    The left side panel  30 L includes a press-formed metal plate, the width thereof is substantially the same as the length of a left end of the base panel  20 , and is formed in a vertically elongated rectangular shape extending from a lower end to an upper end of the housing  2 . 
         [0036]    The left side panel  30 L includes a pair of post portions  31  and  32  that engage with corner portions of the base panel  20 . A grille portion  33  that protects the left side portion  32 L of the first heat exchanger  3 L and a panel portion  34  that closes the right side surface of the blower chamber FC in  FIG. 2  are formed between the post portions  31  and  32 . Since the lower ends of the post portions  31  and  32  are engaged with the side surfaces of the front leg  22  and the rear leg  23  of the base panel  20 , the lower ends thereof protrude from the lower end of the left side panel  30 L. 
         [0037]    In the grille portion  33 , a portion extending from the lower end to the upper end of the first heat exchanger  3 L is opened in a latticed shape. The first heat exchanger  3 L is adapted to be exposed to the outside via the grille portion  33 . The panel portion  34  is a panel surface which closes the right side surface of the blower chamber FC. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the front beam  40 F includes an angle steel material having an L-shaped cross section in this example, and is horizontally hung between the post portion  31  of the left side panel  30 L and the post portion  31  of the right side panel  30 R. One end of the front beam  40 F is screwed to the post portion  31  on the front end side of the left side panel  30 L, and the other end thereof is screwed to the post portion  31  on the front end side of the right side panel  30 R. 
         [0039]    The rear beam  40 R includes an angle steel material similarly having an L-shaped cross section, and is horizontally hung between the post portion  32  of the left side panel  30 L and the post portion  32  of the right side panel  30 R. One end of the rear beam  40 R is screwed to the post portion  32  on the rear end side of the left side panel  30 L, and the other end thereof is screwed to the post portion  32  on the rear end side of the right side panel  30 R. 
         [0040]    In the embodiment, the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R are disposed along a boundary between the machine chamber MC and the blower chamber FC of the housing  2 . The front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R are disposed on the same plane so as to be parallel to each other and parallel to the base panel  20 . 
         [0041]    A first motor bracket  41 L that mounts the first blower  4 L and a second motor bracket  41 R that mounts the second blower  4 R are disposed between the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R. In the embodiment, the first motor bracket  41 L is disposed in the left blower chamber FL, and the second motor bracket  41 R is disposed in the right blower chamber FR. 
         [0042]    Since the first motor bracket  41 L and the second motor bracket  41 R have the same configuration, hereinafter, the first motor bracket  41 L will be described. The first motor bracket  41 L includes a pair of beam members  411  and  411  hung in parallel between the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R, and both ends of the beam members  411  and  411  are respectively screwed and fixed to the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R. 
         [0043]    A fan motor M of the blower  4 L is mounted on the first motor bracket  41 L, and a blower fan (not illustrated) is attached to a rotation shaft OL of the fan motor M. Similarly, a fan motor M of the blower  4 R is mounted on the second motor bracket  41 R, and a blower fan (not illustrated) is attached to a rotation shaft OR of the fan motor M. 
         [0044]    A cylindrical bell mouth BM (BML and BMR, refer to  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) is disposed on an outer circumference of each of the blowers  4  ( 4 L and  4 R). In the embodiment, the air blowing ports  11  ( 11 L and  11 R) correspond to the inner diameter (φ 1  in  FIG. 5B ) of the bell mouth BM. In  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the position of the outline of the bell mouth BM is illustrated by a dashed line. 
         [0045]    In the embodiment, the bell mouth BM is formed so that the opening diameter of the air blowing port  11  gradually decreases as going from the lower end (lower end in  FIG. 5B ) to the upper end (upper end in  FIG. 5B ) in the axial direction. According to this configuration, as the blower  4  is driven, the air that is passed through the heat exchangers  3 L and  3 R from the outside surface of the housing  2  and is heat-exchanged is discharged from the air blowing port  11  to the outside of the housing  2  via the blower  4 . 
         [0046]    Additionally, in a case where two blowers  4 L and  4 R are mounted on the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R, the bending moment increases from the both ends toward the center to the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R, and there is a possibility of distortion or bending to occur in the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R. 
         [0047]    Therefore, in order to increase mechanical strength of the front beam  40 F and the rear beam  40 R, a front pillar  50  and a rear pillar  60  are disposed in the housing  2 . The front pillar  50  is provided with a left front pillar  50 L disposed at a front surface side of the left machine chamber ML, and a right front pillar  50 R disposed at a front surface side of the right machine chamber MR. 
         [0048]    Next, although a configuration of each of the front pillars  50 L and  50 R is described, since the basic configurations of the front pillars  50 L and  50 R are the same as each other, and have a symmetrical shape, the left front pillar  50 L will be described. 
         [0049]    The left front pillar  50 L includes, for example, a single press-formed steel plate, and is formed in a vertically elongated rectangular shape. The left front pillar  50 L is provided with the grille portion  51  that protects the left front portion  31 L of the first heat exchanger  3 L. In the embodiment, the grille portion  51  is formed in a latticed shape in which eight through holes  511  cut out squarely are disposed. 
         [0050]    A first flange portion  52  for screwing the left front pillar  50 L to the post portion  31  of the left side panel  30 L is disposed at the left end of the left front pillar  50 L. A second flange portion  53  to which service panels  70 A and  70 B and an electric component box  80  described later are attached is disposed at a right end of the left front pillar  50 L. A third flange portion  54  for screwing to the front beam  40 F is further disposed on the upper end of the left front pillar  50 L. 
         [0051]    A lower end side of the left front pillar  50 L is screwed to the base panel  20 , and the upper end side of the left front pillar  50 L is screwed to the front beam  40 F via the third flange portion  54 , and the left front pillar  50 L is further screwed in a state in which the first flange portion  52  abuts on the post portion  31  of the left side panel  40 L. 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the rear pillar  60  includes, for example, a press-formed steel plate, and is formed in a vertically elongated rectangular shape in which the lower end thereof is fixed to the base panel  20 , and the upper end thereof is fixed to the rear beam  40 R. 
         [0053]    The rear pillar  60  is provided with a panel body  61  on the center, that closes a rear opening portion  2 B existing between the first heat exchanger  3 L and the second heat exchanger  3 R. The first flange portion  62  screwed to an end plate  35 L of the first heat exchanger  3 L is formed at the right end of the rear pillar  60  in  FIG. 2 . The second flange portion  63  screwed to the end plate  35 R of the second heat exchanger  3 R is formed at the left end of the rear pillar  60  in  FIG. 2 . The upper end of the rear pillar  60  is screwed to the rear beam  40 R. 
         [0054]    The lower end of the rear pillar  60  is screwed to the base panel  20 , and the upper end of the rear pillar  60  is screwed to the rear beam  40 R, and the first flange portion  62  is screwed to the end plate  35 L of the first heat exchanger  3 L, and the second flange portion  63  is screwed to the end plate  35 R of the second heat exchanger  3 R. Thereby, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , it is possible to close the rear opening portion  2 B existing between the first heat exchanger  3 L and the second heat exchanger  3 R with the rear pillar  60 . 
         [0055]    According to this, the two front pillars  50 L and  50 R are screwed between the base panel  20  and the front beam  40 F and the rear pillar  60  is locked between the base panel  20  and the rear beam  40 R. Therefore, the mechanical strength of the housing  2  is increased, and deformation and bending of the housing  2  can be prevented. 
         [0056]    Although a protection grille (not illustrated) for protecting rear portions  33 L and  33 R of the first and second heat exchangers  3 L and  3 R is screwed between the rear pillar  60  and the right and left side panels  50 R and  50 L, since a description is particularly not required in the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the space between the left front pillar  50 L and the right front pillar  50 R of the housing  2  is a front opening portion  2 A (refer to  FIG. 4 ) for maintenance. Accordingly, the service panel  70  is attached to the front opening portion  2 A. 
         [0058]    The service panel  70  includes two panel materials having an upper service panel  70 A that closes an upper side of the front opening portion  2 A, and a lower service panel  70 B that closes a lower side of the front opening portion  2 A. 
         [0059]    The upper service panel  70 A and the lower service panel  70 B include substantially square metal panels. The left end of the upper service panel  70 A and the lower service panel  70 B (left end in  FIG. 1 ) is screwed to the second flange portion  53  of the left front pillar  50 L. The right end of the upper service panel  70 A and the lower service panel  70 B (right end in  FIG. 1 ) is screwed to the second flange portion  53  of the right front pillar  50 R. 
         [0060]    In the embodiment, the lower left corner of the lower service panel  70 B is cut in an L-shape, and a conduit panel  74  for connecting a conduit pipe (not illustrated) is fitted in a cutout portion  73  thereof. 
         [0061]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the electric component box  80  is disposed on a rear surface (surface facing the inside of the housing  2 ) of the upper service panel  70 A. The electric component box  80  includes a rectangular parallelepiped box substantially equal in size to the upper service panel  70 A and is screwed to the second flange portions  53  and  53  of the right and left front pillars  50 R and  50 L. 
         [0062]    The front panel  90 F is disposed at a front surface side (front surface side in  FIG. 1 ) of the blower chamber FC, and a rear panel  90 R is disposed at a rear surface side (front surface side in  FIG. 2 ) of the blower chamber FC of the housing  2 . Both the front panel  90 F and the rear panel  90 R are horizontally elongated rectangular metal panels covering the front surface side and the rear surface side of the blower chamber FC, and are respectively screwed to the side panels  30 L and  30 R. 
         [0063]    A top panel  91  is attached to a top surface of the blower chamber FC. A top panel  91  includes a horizontally elongated rectangular metal frame covering the upper surface of the housing  2 . A rectangular first opening portion  92 L exposing the first air blowing port  11 L and a square second opening portion  92 R exposing the second air blowing port  11 R are formed on the top panel  91 . In the embodiment, reinforcing beam portions  94  are formed between each of the opening portions  92 L and  92 R. The protection grilles  93 R and  93 L are respectively screwed to each of the right and left opening portions  92 R and  92 L with the beam portion  94  interposed therebetween. 
         [0064]    The feature of the present invention is that without enlarging the blower  4  along with increasing the size of the housing  2  and the heat exchanger  3 , the layout thereof is reviewed and the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor unit is enhanced without enlarging the blower. 
         [0065]    Therefore, referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the center line in the lateral direction (lateral direction in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) of the left blower chamber FL is defined as LL, and the center line in the lateral direction (lateral direction in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) of the right blower chamber FR is defined as LR. The rotation shaft OL of the first blower  4 L is disposed closer to the center line L in the lateral direction of the housing  2  (rightward in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) than the center line LL in the lateral direction of the left blower chamber FL. The rotation shaft OR of the second blower  4 R is disposed closer to the center line L in the lateral direction of the housing  2  (leftward in  FIGS. 5A and 5B ) than the center line LR in the lateral direction of the right blower chamber FR. 
         [0066]    As a more preferred aspect, when the distance between the center line L and the outer circumference of the first air blowing port  11 L or the second air blowing port  11  is defined as G 1 , the distance between a side panel  30 L of the housing  2  and the outer circumference of the first air blowing port  11 L, or the distance between a side panel  30 R thereof and the outer circumference of the second air blowing port  11 R is defined as G 2 , the air blowing port  11  is disposed at a position that satisfies G 1 &lt;G 2 . 
         [0067]    As a further preferred aspect, when the inner diameter of the bell mouth BM is defined as φ 1 , and the outer diameter of the bell mouth BM is defined as φ 2 , the distance G 1  is disposed so as to satisfy G 1 ≧(φ 2 −φ 1 )/2. 
         [0068]    According to this configuration, each of the air blowing ports  11 L and  11 R is disposed closer toward the center line L in the minimum range within which the bell mouth BM can be configured. Therefore, the amount of air passing through the heat exchanger at the same rotation speed increases. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor unit without enlarging the blower. In addition, it is possible to reduce the current consumption of the motor for obtaining the same amount of air, and to enhance the operation efficiency of the outdoor unit, without enlarging the blower. 
       Application Example 
       [0069]    Next, the simulation result calculated based on the more specific specification of the present invention will be considered together with the comparative example. The specification of the each housing in the application example and the comparative example is illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . Both the sizes (width W×depth D×height H=1750 mm×765 mm×1690 mm) of the housing  2  are the same. 
       Simulation Condition 
       [0070]    (1) Stationary analysis 
         [0071]    (2) A rotation speed of each of the right and left blower fans is 940 rpm. 
         [0072]    (3) The resistance to ventilation of the heat exchanger is defined as a coefficient based on measured value. 
         [0073]    (4) The pressure boundary is 0 Pa other than the floor surface. 
         [0074]    (5) The air physical property value is set to a density of 1.18415 kg/m 3  and a viscosity coefficient of 1.85508×10 −5  Pa·s. 
       Simulation Contents 
       [0075]    The amount of air of the air intake surface and the axial power of each of the blower fans at each of the above physical property values are calculated and the wind velocity distribution (m/s) on the heat exchanger surface is illustrated in the contour diagram ( FIG. 7 ). In addition, the flow of air from the suction to the blowout in the interior of the housing is illustrated by a trace line ( FIG. 8 ). Hereinafter, specification values (simulation) of the housing in the application example and the comparative example are described. 
       Housing Specifications in the Application Example 
       [0076]    Width W=1750 mm 
         [0077]    Depth D=765 mm 
         [0078]    Height H=1690 mm 
         [0079]    Distance G 1 =41.5 mm 
         [0080]    Distance G 2 =116.5 mm 
         [0081]    Inner diameter of the bell mouth φ 1 =717 mm 
         [0082]    Outer diameter of the bell mouth φ 2 =750 mm 
         [0083]    Housing specifications in the comparative example 
         [0084]    Width W=1750 mm 
         [0085]    Depth D=765 mm 
         [0086]    Height H=1690 mm 
         [0087]    Distance G 1 =79 mm 
         [0088]    Distance G 2 =79 mm 
         [0089]    Inner diameter of the bell mouth φ 1 =717 mm 
         [0090]    Outer diameter of the bell mouth φ 2 =750 mm 
         [0091]    Hereinafter,  FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the simulation results. According to this, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , it is understood that the air flow at the front and rear portions of the bottom portion of the housing  2  (area surrounded by the broken line) in the application example in the region where the flow velocity is fast (portion of the light color) is increased as compared with that in the comparative example. 
         [0092]    Furthermore, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the air flow of the bottom portion of the housing  2  (area surrounded by the broken line) on the lower side in the comparative example is rough, whereas the air in the application example is dense and it is understood that the air flow is large. According to this, the simulation result is obtained that the amount of air passing through the heat exchanger at the same rotation speed increased by approximately 2%. 
         [0093]    As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the air blowing port of the first blower and the air blowing port of the second blower are disposed close to each other in a possible range with the center line L in the lateral direction of the housing interposed therebetween. Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the wind of the blower which is conventionally wasted. As a result, since the amount of air and the wind velocity distribution per unit area passing through the heat exchanger at the same rotation speed increase, it is possible to enhance the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor unit, without enlarging the blower. In addition, it is possible to reduce the current consumption of the motor for obtaining the same amount of air, and to enhance the operation efficiency of the outdoor unit, without enlarging the blower.

Technology Category: f