BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an axial flow fan of an air conditioner. An axial
flow fan according to the preamble of claim 1 is indicated in
US 6,447,251 B1.
2. Background of the Related Art
[0002] In general, an air conditioner is mounted therein with a refrigerating cycle s ystem
composed of a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, an evaporator and a heat
exchanger. The air conditioner is an apparatus for properly sending cold air formed
at t he evaporator or warm air generated at the condenser according to an indoor condition,
a nd thus genially maintaining indoor atmosphere.
[0003] The air conditioner may be divided into a window type air conditioner wher e the
refrigerating cycle system is mounted in a single body, a spilt type air conditioner
w here an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separated and installed indoors and
outdoors r espectively, and so forth. Particularly, the spilt type air conditioner
is again divided, acc ording to an installation method, into a wall-mounted type,
a permanent-mounted type (in cluding a package air conditioner), a ceiling-mounted
type, a ceiling-embedded type and so on. Especially, the indoor unit of the spilt
type air conditioner may has a structure ca pable of alternatively using the wall-mounted
type and the permanent-mounted type and being simultaneously applied as the ceiling-mounted
type according to need of a user, wh ich is referred to as a convertible type indoor
unit.
[0004] Fig. 1 schematically shows a general air conditioner.
[0005] Referring to Fig. 1, the conventional air conditioner is composed of an outd oor
unit 20 which is disposed outdoors and exchanges heat with outdoor air, an indoor
un it 10 which is disposed indoors and conditions indoor air, and a connecting line
30 which connects the outdoor unit and the indoor unit with each other.
[0006] To be more specific, the outdoor unit 20 is a means for converting a gas refr igerant
of low temperature and low pressure, which is inputted from the indoor unit 10 by
exchanging heat with the outdoor air, into a liquid refrigerant of low temperature
and lo w pressure, and is composed of a compressor 11, a condenser 12 and an expansion
valve 13.
[0007] Further, the compressor 11 is a component for converting the gas refrigeran t of
low temperature and low pressure, which is inputted from the indoor unit 10, into
the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure, and the condenser 12 is
a compone nt for converting the gas refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure
into a liquid re frigerant of middle temperature and high pressure, and the expansion
valve 13 is a compo nent for converting the liquid refrigerant of middle temperature
and high pressure into the liquid refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure.
[0008] Here, the condenser 12 is a component for directly exchanging the heat wit h the
outdoor air, and has a separate fan for introducing the outdoor air.
[0009] Meanwhile, the indoor unit 10 lowers an indoor temperature by means of e vaporation,
which occurs when the liquid refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure introduced
from the outdoor unit 20 is converted into the gas refrigerant of low temperat ure
and low pressure.
[0010] The indoor unit 10 is composed of an evaporator 21 and a fan 21a, wherein the evaporator
21 converts the liquid refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure into the gas
refrigerant of low temperature and low pressure. The connecting line 30 is a co mponent
for connecting the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 to circulate the refriger
ant, and is properly disposed according to a distance between the outdoor unit 10
and the indoor unit 10.
[0011] As set forth above, the outdoor unit 20 of the split-type air conditioner inclu des
the compressor, the condenser, a cooling fan (hereinafter, referred to as "axial flow
fa n") which usually generate many noises, and a driving motor for rotating the axial
flow fa n. The indoor unit 10 includes the evaporator 21 and the blow fan 21 a, and
performs ref rigeration and circulation of the indoor air.
[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a general split type air conditioner.
[0013] As shown in Fig. 2, the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 are connecte d to
each other by the connecting line 30.
[0014] Meanwhile, the axial flow fan 40, as shown in Fig. 3A, has a hub 42 couple d to a
rotational shaft of the driving motor (not shown), and a plurality of blades 44 forme
d on an outer circumferential surface of the hub 42, wherein the hub 42 is integrally
form ed with the blades 44.
[0015] When the axial flow fan 40 is rotated by the driving motor, a pressure differ ence
is generated between front and rear sides of the plurality of blades 44 formed on
the outer circumferential surface of the hub 42.
[0016] This pressure difference generates a suction force capable of sucking up the air,
thus sucking up the outdoor air toward the outdoor unit 20 through the suction. Th
us, the outdoor air passes through the condenser 12 provided on an intake side of
the outd oor unit. At this point, the outdoor air exchanges the heat with the gas
refrigerant flowin g through the condenser to condense the gas refrigerant into a
liquid state, and then flows out outside the outdoor unit 20 through ventilation of
the axial flow fan 40.
[0017] As for characteristic factors determining a ventilation characteristic of the a xial
flow fan 40, they are divided into two types: general factors such as the number of
th e blades 44, a (outer) diameter D of the axial flow fan, a (outer) diameter d of
the hub and so forth, and so-called blade factors such as a pitch angle β, a peak
point of the camber P, a maximum quantity of the camber MC, a length of a chord, a
sweep angle α and so fo rth at the blade, which will be described below with reference
to Figs. 3A and 3B.
[0018] The pitch angle β of the blade, as in Fig. 3B, is an angle between a flow dir ection
of the fluid or the air (x-axis in the figure) and a straight line, namely a chord,
runn ing from a leading edge (L.E) of the blade 44 and its trailing edge (T.E).
[0019] Here, the quantity of the camber refers to a length joining the camber (a cen tral
line across a cross section of the blade) and the chord. The maximum point of the
c amber quantity, i.e., the maximum quantity of the camber MC, as in Fig. 3B, refers
to the camber quantity between the L.E. of the blade 44 and the camber peak point
P on the cho rd C running from the L.E to the T.E.
[0020] The sweep angle α refers to an angle between two lines that intersect, one o f which
is one which connects the center of an inner end of the blade 44 or the center of
a portion where the blade 44 comes into contact with the hub 42 but goes with a curvature
of the blade 44, and the other is one (Y axis in the figure) which passes through
the cent er (point) of the inner end of the blade 44 and the center (point) of the
hub 42.
[0021] Especially, the sweep angle α is a factor determining a noise of an airflow o f the
axial flow fan 40. When the sweep angle α is great, a phase difference of the airflo
w between the hub 42 and a tip of the blade 44 becomes great. In contrast, when the
sw eep angle α is great, the phase difference of the airflow becomes small.
[0022] The phase difference of the airflow causes a phase difference between a noi se generated
at the outer end of the blade 44 and a noise generated at the inner end of the blade
44. The greater this noise phase difference is, the lower a frequency of the airflow
passing through the blade 44 becomes. Hence, the noise becomes lower.
[0023] And, the number of the blades 44 is an important factor determining the airf low
noise generated when the axial flow fan 40 is operated.
[0024] One example of this conventional axial flow fan 40 is disclosed in
Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-14960, titled
AXIAL FLOW FAN OF OUTDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONER, previously filed by the present applicant and published as of Febru ary 20, 2003.
As for the disclosed axial flow fan of the outdoor unit of the air condition er, it
includes a hub 42 connected with a rotational shaft of a motor and a plurality of
blad es 44 integrally formed on an outer circumferential surface of the hub, wherein
the numb er of the blades 44 is set to three, a whole outer diameter of the fan is
set to 340±2mm, a nd a diameter of the hub 42 is set to 100±2mm.
[0025] Further, each blade 44 is configured so that the pitch angle β is linearly chan ged
from the hub 42 to the end thereof in a range between 20 degrees and 37 degrees.
[0026] Each blade 44 is also configured so that the peak point of the camber P is fo rmed
at a point corresponding to 70% of the chord length in a direction from the L.E ther
eof to the T.E thereof, and that the maximum quantity of the camber MC is set to 0.5%
w ithin each radius from the hub 42 to the end of the blade 44.
[0027] Further, the sweep angle α of each blade 44 has a range between 47 degrees and 49
degrees when a dimensionless radius coordinate is less than 0.3 and is linearly in
creased when the dimensionless radius coordinate exceeds 0.3 to have a range between
5 5 degrees and 57 degrees at the end of the blade.
[0028] For reference, the dimensionless radius coordinate is a factor for taking into consideration
of performance of the axial flow fan only by the blades 44 except for the h ub 42,
and is determined between 0 and 1 when a position where the blades and the hub c ome
into contact with each other is set to 0, and the end of each blade 44 is set to 1.
[0029] The dimensionless radius coordinate is obtained by the follow formula. r=( R-Rh)/(Rt-Rh),
where R is the length from the center of the axial flow fan (
i.e. the center of the hub) to a certain position, Rh is the radius of the hub 42, Rt
is the length from the c enter of the axial flow fan (
i.e. the center of the hub) to the end of each blade 44, namely, the radius of the axial
flow fan.
[0030] According to the axial flow fan 40 having three blades 44 in the outdoor uni t of
the foregoing air conditioner, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a pressure coefficient and
co nstant pressure efficiency are enhanced as compared to another conventional axial
flow fa n having four blades. As a result, the motor for the axial flow fan having
three blades ca n be also enhanced in operation efficiency at an operation point,
and can be driven with a size smaller than that for another conventional axial flow
fan having four blades. In add ition, the motor for the axial flow fan having three
blades is reduced by about 22% in con sumption electrical power required for operation.
[0031] However, when the axial flow fan 40 is driven, a slip stream or wake comp onent is
generated at the L.E and T.E of the leading blade 44, and a turbulent flow compo nent
is generated by separation on a negative pressure surface. These two components h
ave influence on the trailing blade 44, thus deteriorating the performance of the
axial flo w fan 40, and simultaneously generating the noise by a turbulent flow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to design an axial flow fa n
within an optimal design range capable of suppressing increase in intensity of a turbule
nt flow generated from a surface of each blade, increase in thickness of a boundary
layer on the surface of each blade and disturbance of an airflow within a region of
the hub.
[0033] It is another objective to provide an axial flow fan capable of remarkably re ducing
a noise within the predetermined frequency range (between about 300 Hz and abo ut
1000 Hz) with respect to the same air volume as the conventional axial flow fan.
[0034] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an axial flo w fan
according to claim 1.
[0035] Therefore, according to the present invention, the axial flow fan can reduc e the
noise as low as possible and increase the pressure coefficient and the constant press
ure efficiency compared to the conventional axial flow fan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be come
more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction w
ith the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0037] Fig. 1 schematically shows a general air conditioner;
[0038] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a general split type air conditioner;
[0039] Figs. 3A and 3B are front and side views of a conventional axial flow fan, r espectively;
[0040] Fig. 4 is a graph showing comparison of relation between a pressure coeffic ient
and a flow rate coefficient in a conventional axial flow fan with that of another
conve ntional axial flow fan;
[0041] Fig. 5 is a graph showing comparison of relation between constant pressure efficiency
and a flow rate coefficient in a conventional axial flow fan with that of another
conventional axial flow fan;
[0042] Figs. 6A and 6B are front and side views of an axial flow fan according to t he present
invention, respectively;
[0043] Figs. 7A and 7B show a state where blades are tilted on an outer circumfere ntial
surface of a hub at a certain rake angle in axial flow fans according to the prior
art and the present invention;
[0044] Fig. 8 is a graph showing a state where a noise is changed according to a ch ange
of a solidity with respect to axial flow fans of the prior art and the present invention;
[0045] Fig. 9 is a graph showing a state where a noise is changed according to a ch ange
of a quantity of a camber with respect to axial flow fans of the prior art and the
pres ent invention;
[0046] Fig. 10 is graph showing relation between a (constant) pressure coefficient, a constant
pressure efficiency and a flow rate coefficient with respect to axial flow fans o
f the prior art and the present invention; and
[0047] Fig. 11 is a graph showing comparison of a state where a noise is changed a ccording
to a change of a frequency of an axial flow fan of the present invention with that
of an axial flow fan of the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0049] Figs. 6A and 6B are front and side views of an axial flow fan according to t he present
invention, respectively. Figs. 7A and 7B show a state where blades are tilted on an
outer circumferential surface of a hub at a certain rake angle in axial flow fans
acco rding to the prior art and the present invention.
[0050] An axial flow fan 140 of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to t he
present invention is composed of a hub 142 connected with a rotational shaft 141 of
a motor, and a plurality of blades 144 integrally formed on an outer circumferential
surface of the hub 142.
[0051] The axial flow fan 140 is configured so that the number of the blades is two , that
a ratio of an inner diameter to an outer diameter (
i.e. a ratio of the outer diameter of the hub and the outer diameter of the fan) is between
about 0.35 and about 0.4, that a soli dity, a ratio of the whole area of the fan 140
and an area of the blades, has a range of 0.85 ±0.05, and that a quantity of a camber
of the hub 142 has a range of 5.0%±1.0%.
[0052] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be made on the axial flow fan of the outdoor
unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention.
[0053] Meanwhile, when the axial flow fan 140 is driven, a slip stream or wake co mponent
may be generated at a leading edge (L.E) and a trailing edge (T.E) of the leading
blade 144, and a turbulent flow component may be generated by separation on a negativ
e pressure surface. These two components may have influence on the trailing blade
144, thus deteriorating performance of the axial flow fan 140, and simultaneously
generating a noise by a turbulent flow. Thus, the present invention aims at preventing
the drawbac ks of the axial flow fan 140.
[0054] Further, the present invention is to suppress increase in intensity of the turb ulent
flow generated from a surface of each blade 144, increase in thickness of a boundar
y layer on the surface of each blade 144, and disturbance of an ariflow within a region
of the hub 142.
[0055] In order to accomplish the objectives, the axial flow fan 140 is formed so th at
the number of the blades 144 is two, that the ratio of the inner diameter to the outer
dia meter (
i.
e. the ratio of the outer diameter of the hub and the outer diameter of the axial flo
w fan) is between about 0.35 and about 0.4, that the solidity, the ratio of the whole
area of the fan 140 and the area of the blades, has the range of 0.85±0.05, and that
the camber q uantity of the hub 142 has the range of 5.0%±1.0%. With regard to this,
the detailed co nfiguration of the present invention is as follows.
[0056] The axial flow fan 140 of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according t o the
present invention, as shown in Fig. 6A, is composed of the hub 142 connected with
the rotational shaft 141 of the motor, and the plurality of blades 144 integrally
formed on the outer circumferential surface of the hub 142.
[0057] Here, the number of the blades 144 is set to two. The inner and outer dia meter ratio
of the axial flow fan 140,
i.
e. the ratio of the outer diameter of the hub 142 an d the outer diameter of the axial
flow fan 140, is set to a range between about 0.35 and ab out 0.40.
[0058] Further, the ratio of the whole area of the axial flow fan 140 and the area of the
blades,
i.e. the solidity, has the range of 0.85±0.05, and the camber quantity of the hu b 142
has the range of 5.0%±1.0%. The solidity can be expressed by the following form ula.
[0059] Solidity = (chord × Z) / 2
πr
[0060] where
2π r : circumference length when a radius is
r,
chord : straight lin e joining the L.E of the blade with the T.E of the blade,
Z : the number of blades.
[0061] Thus, a value of the solidity presented in the present invention may become a mean
value from the hub and a tip, for example, an integral value.
[0062] For the axial flow fan 140, as shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, a rake base line of each
blade 144 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the hub 142 is tilted from
that formed horizontal to the outer circumferential surface of the conventional hub
42 by a rake angle between about 20 degrees and about 23 degrees. Here, the rake angle
refers to an angle determining how much to tilt and form the blades 144 on the circumferential
surface of the hub 142.
[0063] As for a state where the blades 144 are formed on the outer circumferential surface
of the hub 142 through the rake angle, as shown in Figs. 7A and 7B, among the w hole
length from the outer circumferential surface of the hub 142 to the outer end (i.e.
tip) of each blade 144, a part from the outer circumferential surface of the hub 142
to a pred etermined portion of each blade 144 is tilted at the rake angle, and the
other part from the predetermined portion of each blade 144 and the tip of each blade
144 is provided with a bulge 146 protruded toward a pressure surface. The tip of each
blade 144 has the same angle as the rake angle from the outer circumferential surface
of the hub 142 to the predet ermined portion of each blade 144. In this manner, a
profile of the axial flow fan 140 is formed as a whole.
[0064] In other words, when the section from the outer circumferential surface of t he hub
to the tip of each blade is divided into two sections, the first section performs
rotat ional displacement at the identical angle, and the second section forms a non-linear
angle raised toward the pressure surface. The tip (i.e. a section except for the two
sections) is adapted to apply an identical value of the first section.
[0065] At this point, the outer diameter D of the axial flow fan is 460±2mm, and th e outer
diameter d of the hub 142 is 170±2mm.
[0066] Here, a pitch angle, a peak point of a camber, and a sweep angle of each bla de 144
are the same as the pitch angle β, the peak point of the camber P, the maximum qu
antity of the camber MC, and the sweep angle α of the conventional blade 44 shown
in Fi gs. 3A and 3B. Now, the pitch angle, the peak point of the camber, and the sweep
angle of each blade 144 will be described in detail below.
[0067] The pitch angle β of each blade 144 is configured to be linearly changed fro m the
hub 142 to the end of the blade 144 within a range between 37 degrees and 20 degr
ees.
[0068] Each blade 144 is configured so that the peak point of the camber P is form ed at
a position corresponding to 70% of a length of a chord in a direction from the front
end of the blade to the rear end of the blade, and that that the maximum quantity
of the ca mber MC is kept constant at a value of 0.5% within each radius from the
hub 142 to the e nd of the blade 144.
[0069] Furthermore, the sweep angle α of each blade 144 has a range between abo ut 47 degrees
and about 49 degrees when a dimensionless radius coordinate is less than 0. 3 and
is linearly increased when the dimensionless radius coordinate exceeds 0.3 to have
a range between about 55 degrees and about 57 degrees at the end of the blade.
[0070] A change of the noise generated from the axial flow fan configured as set fo rth
above will be described below.
[0071] Fig. 8 is a graph showing a state where a noise is changed according to a ch ange
of a solidity with respect to axial flow fans of the prior art and the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a graph showing a state where a noise is changed according to a change of
a q uantity of a camber with respect to axial flow fans of the prior art and the present
inventio n. Fig. 10 is graph showing relation between a (constant) pressure coefficient,
a constan t pressure efficiency and a flow rate coefficient with respect to axial
flow fans of the prior art and the present invention. Fig. 11 is a graph showing comparison
of a state where a noise is changed according to a change of a frequency of an axial
flow fan of the present invention with that of an axial flow fan of the prior art.
[0072] As seen from the foregoing description and the drawings, the solidity applie d to
the present invention has a range of 0.85±0.05 and the camber quantity of the hub
ha s a range of 5.0%±1.0%.
[0073] In contrast, the solidity applied to the prior art (Z=3) has a relatively great v
alue compared to that of the present invention, and the camber quantity of the hub
has a r elatively small value.
[0074] The following description will be made with reference to Figs. 10 and 11.
[0075] In the graph of Fig. 10, an upper line shows a comparison of relation of the (constant)
pressure coefficient and the flow rate coefficient in the axial flow fan 140 with
that of the conventional axial flow fan 40, while a lower line shows a comparison
of relati on of the constant pressure efficiency and the flow rate coefficient in
the axial flow fan 1 40 with that of the conventional axial flow fan 40.
[0076] For the axial flow fan 140 according to the present invention, the noise cha nge
was measured depending on the change of the solidity as the ratio of the whole area
o f the fan 140 to the area of the blades. It was found that as a result of the measurement,
as shown in Fig. 8, when the ratio of the whole area of the fan 140 to the area of
the blades, i.e. the solidity, was about 0.87, the noise was the lowest. Further,
the noise change wa s measured depending on the change of the camber quantity of each
blade of the axial flo w fan 140. It was found that as a result of the measurement,
as shown in Fig. 9, when th e camber quantity of the blade 144 was about 0.5%, the
noise was lowest.
[0077] For the axial flow fan 140 according to the present invention, it can be seen that
as shown in Fig. 10, the pressure coefficient and the constant pressure efficiency
wer e enhanced over the conventional axial flow fan 40, and that the operation efficiency
was also enhanced at the operation point according to the enhancement of the pressure
coeffic ient and the constant pressure efficiency of the axial flow fan 140 as set
forth above.
[0078] Further, Fig. 11 is a graph showing comparison of a state where a noise is c hanged
according to a change of a frequency of an axial flow fan of the present invention
with that of an axial flow fan of the prior art. As shown in Fig. 11, it can be seen
that w hen having an air volume equal to that of the conventional axial flow fan 40,
the axial flo w fan 140 was subjected to great reduction of the noise in a range between
about 300 Hz and about 1000Hz.
[0079] As set forth above, the present invention relates to the axial flow fan config ured
so that the number of the blades is two, that a predetermined rake angle is kept const
ant in the part from the hub to the predetermined portion of the blade among the whole
pa rt from the hub to the outer end of the blade and is increased in the pressure
surface direct ion in the other part from the predetermined portion of the blade to
the the outer end of th e blade, and the ratio of the inner diameter to the outer
diameter is between about 0.35 an d about 0.4.
[0080] Therefore, the axial flow fan of the present invention is designed within an optimal
design range (that the solidity, the ratio of the whole area of the axial flow fan
an d the area of the blades, is about 0.87 and that the camber quantity of the hub
is about 5.0 %), for example, capable of suppressing increase in intensity of the
turbulent flow genera ted from the surface of each blade, increase in thickness of
the boundary layer on the surf ace of each blade and disturbance of the airflow within
the region of the hub. As a resul t, the axial flow fan of the present invention can
reduce the noise as low as possible and i ncrease the pressure coefficient and the
constant pressure efficiency compared to the con ventional axial flow fan.
[0081] Further, the axial flow fan of the present invention can remarkably reduce t he noise
within the predetermined frequency range (e.g. between about 300 Hz and about 1000
Hz) with respect to the same air volume as the conventional axial flow fan.
[0082] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred
embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that vari ous
changes in form and details may be made therein.
[0083] For example, the axial flow fan of the present invention may be applied to a refrigerator
or other apparatuses for condensing and evaporating a refrigerant.