INDOOR UNIT AND AIR CONDITIONER INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

 Provided is an indoor unit (200) provided with a fan (8), a casing (7) which accommodates the fan (8), and a heat exchanger (60) provided in the casing (7) and disposed to surround the fan (8). The heat exchanger (60) has a plurality of fins (17) which are arranged in the circumferential direction with surfaces facing each other, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes which pass through the plurality of fins (17) and extend along the circumferential direction. The plurality of refrigerant pipes has a first pipe line (34A) through which a refrigerant flows in a first circumferential direction (33A) which is one direction of the circumferential direction, and a second pipe line (34B) through which a refrigerant flows in a second circumferential direction (33B) opposite to the first circumferential direction (33A). A first refrigerant inlet (36A) configured to introduce the refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger (60) toward the first circumferential direction (33A) is provided at a starting point of the first pipe line (34A), and a second refrigerant inlet (36B) configured to introduce the refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger (60) toward the second circumferential direction (33B) is provided at a starting point of the second pipe line (34B).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit and an air conditioner including the same.

Description of Related Art

[0002] An air conditioner having a ceiling-embedded type indoor unit is known. Such an indoor unit includes a fan and a heat exchanger provided to surround the fan in a box-shaped casing embedded in a ceiling and opening toward the inside of a room.

[0003] A refrigerant circulation pipe in the heat exchanger and the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circulation pipe increase in temperature at the time of cooling and decrease in temperature at the time of heating in a direction of flow of the refrigerant, due to a heat exchange at the time of operation. Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerant changes depending on the location of the heat exchanger, and a variation in an amount of heat exchange occurs depending on the location at which the air suctioned by the fan passes through the heat exchanger. As a result, in many cases, since a plurality of outlets for the cold and hot airflows of the indoor unit are provided in a circumferential edge portion of the casing in a circumferential direction, a temperature difference may be generated in the blown air depending on the positions of the respective outlets.

[0004]  In order to prevent this temperature difference in the air, a technique of making the temperature in the entire heat exchanger uniform in the circumferential direction of the opening of the casing according to the design of the refrigerant flow path in the heat exchanger is known.

[0005] As an example of such an indoor unit, Patent Document 1 discloses an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a refrigerant is caused to circulate in a direction of the rotation axis of the fan, that is, in a vertical direction in a plurality of separate heat exchangers.

[Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2008-256305

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Incidentally, the following problem has occurred in the indoor unit described in the aforementioned Patent Document 1. That is, since there is a need for many pipes for branching and joining of the refrigerant accompanying division of the heat exchanger, in some cases, the structure becomes complicated, and the volume of the indoor unit may increase.

[0008] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of blowing cold and hot airflows with less temperature unevenness caused by a difference in blowing location, while having a simple configuration.

[0009]  An indoor unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a fan which blows air by rotating around an axis; a box-like casing which accommodates the fan and opens in one direction in a direction of the axis; and a heat exchanger provided in the casing and extending in a circumferential direction of an opening to surround the fan. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of fins which are arranged in the circumferential direction with surfaces facing each other, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes which pass through the plurality of fins and extend along the circumferential direction. The plurality of refrigerant pipes has a first pipeline through which a refrigerant flows in a first circumferential direction which is one direction in the circumferential direction, and a second pipe line through which the refrigerant flows in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction. A first refrigerant inlet configured to introduce the refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger in the first circumferential direction is provided at a starting point of the first pipe line, and a second refrigerant inlet configured to introduce the refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger toward the second circumferential direction is provided at a starting point of the second pipe line.

[0010] According to this configuration, when the refrigerant flows through the first pipe line in the heat exchanger, the temperature of the refrigerant increases at the time of a cooling operation and decreases at the time of a heating operation toward the first circumferential direction. On the other hand, when the refrigerant flows through the second pipe line, the temperature of the refrigerant increases at the time of the cooling operation and decreases at the time of the heating operation toward the second circumferential direction. Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerant increases or decreases in opposite directions with respect to the first pipe line and the second pipe line, the temperature gradients cancel each other out, and any nonuniformity in the temperature in the circumferential direction of the heat exchanger is leveled out. Thus, the amount of heat exchange is also made more uniform in the circumferential direction.

[0011] Further, the heat exchanger may extend continuously over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

[0012] According to this configuration, since the heat exchange can be performed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction in the casing by a single heat exchanger, a configuration in which the number of the heat exchanger is small as compared with a case where the heat exchanger is dividedly disposed is obtained, and the indoor unit can be made more compact.

[0013] Further, in the indoor unit, the first pipe line and the second pipe line may be provided in corresponding numbers

[0014] According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a corresponding number of second pipelines suitable for canceling out a temperature gradient of the heat exchanger in the first circumferential direction caused by the circulation of the refrigerant in the first circumferential direction. Therefore, the amount of heat exchange in the circumferential direction of the entire heat exchanger can be made more uniform.

[0015] Further, the indoor unit may have a uniform distribution in the direction of the axis regarding the respective numbers of pipes of the first pipeline and the second pipeline in the heat exchanger.

[0016] According to this configuration, in the entire heat exchanger, temperature nonuniformity can be leveled out in the direction of the axis as well as in the circumferential direction. As a result, it is also possible to reduce variation in a heat exchange amount in the case where the airflow varies depending on a position in the direction of the axis passing through the heat exchanger.

[0017] Further, in the above-described indoor unit, in the heat exchanger, the first pipe line may be deviatedly provided on a bottom side of the casing in the direction of axis, the second pipe line may be deviatedly provided on an opening side of the casing in the direction of axis, and the number of refrigerant pipes constituting the second pipe line may be larger than the number of the refrigerant pipe constituting the first pipe line.

[0018] According to this configuration, since the first pipelines and the second pipelines are densely provided, it is possible to simplify the pipes for distributing the refrigerant to the pipelines. Further, depending on the structure of the fan and the structure of the outlet, the air flow on the opening side of the casing becomes smaller than that on the bottom side, but the amount of heat exchange of the second pipe line provided at the position, at which the air flow is small, can be brought close to the amount of heat exchange of the first pipe line provided at a position at which the air volume is large. This makes it possible to make the deviation of temperature uniform not only in the circumferential direction but also in the direction of the axis in the entire heat exchanger.

[0019] An air conditioner according to an aspect of the present invention includes any one of the above indoor units.

[0020] According to the indoor unit and the air conditioner including the indoor unit, it is possible to blow cold and hot airflows with less temperature unevenness caused by the difference in the blowing location, while having a simple configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] 

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an entire air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention taken along line B-B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to a cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger according to a second embodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger according to the second embodiment of the present invention taken along line B-B in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a main part of the heat exchanger according to the second embodiment of the present invention seen from an arrow X in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a main part of the heat exchanger according to the second embodiment of the present invention seen from an arrow Y in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to a diagram of a main part of a heat exchanger according to a third embodiment of the present invention seen from an arrow X in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to a diagram of the main part of the heat exchanger according to the third embodiment of the present invention seen from an arrow Y in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment]

[0022] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0023] An air conditioner 100 of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 has an indoor unit 200 and an outdoor unit 2. The indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected to each other by a refrigerant circuit 3 to circulate the refrigerant. The outdoor unit 2 includes a compressor 4 and an outdoor heat exchanger 5, compresses the refrigerant, and functions as a power source for making the refrigerant flow. A heat exchanger 60 of the indoor unit to be described later functions as an evaporator.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner 100 includes a casing 7 embedded in a ceiling, a fan 8 provided in the casing 7, and a heat exchanger 60 provided to surround the fan 8, respectively.

[0025] The casing 7 has a box shape which opens toward the inside of the room, for example, in the form of a rectangular shape. In the present embodiment, the casing 7 is provided with a decorative plate 11 to cover an opening thereof. A central portion of the decorative plate 11 is provided with an air filter 12 and functions as a suction port 6 for the indoor air.

[0026] The decorative plate 11 is installed in the casing 7 so as not to cover all of the opening and forms a plurality of slit-like gaps in a circumferential edge portion of the opening. In the present embodiment, the slit-like gaps are provided at a total of four places corresponding to the respective quadrangular four sides. These slit-like gaps function as an outlet 13 for air which is suctioned from the suction port 6, passes through the heat exchanger 60 and is blown toward the inside of the room.

[0027] The fan 8 has a turbo fan 14, a motor 15 which applies a rotational force to the turbo fan 14 about the axis O, and a bell mouth 16 which guides air to the turbo fan 14. An opening diameter of the bell mouth 16 is enlarged toward the inside of the room. The opening diameter of the bell mouth 16 is about the same as the diameter of the air filter 12, and the opening of the bell mouth 16 toward the room is covered by the air filter 12.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 60 is provided to extend over the entire circumference of the opening of the casing 7 in the circumferential direction to surround the fan 8. At this time, the single heat exchanger 60 is bent three times in the same direction in accordance with the shape of the corner of the casing 7, in order to form a square from which part is omitted when viewed in the direction of the axis O. Thus, in the present embodiment, both terminal end portions of the heat exchanger 60 in a longitudinal direction (which is the circumferential direction by being bent) are disposed at positions corresponding to one of the four corners of the casing 7.

[0029] The heat exchanger 60 includes a plurality of refrigerant pipes extending parallel to each other in the circumferential direction of the opening, and a plurality of fins 17 which are rectangular metal plates. A refrigerant pipe is provided which penetrates the fins 17. Heat exchange is performed between the air passing around the refrigerant pipe and the refrigerant inside the refrigerant pipe. The fins 17 are arranged continuously at equal intervals so that the surfaces thereof face each other, serve as heat conductors between the refrigerant pipes, and also allow heat exchange with air to be performed. In a bent portion 20 of the heat exchanger 60 which is not illustrated in detail, the refrigerant pipe is also bent, and the adjacent fins 17 do not face each other, accordingly.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the refrigerant pipe is disposed at equal intervals by forming a total of two rows of a fan-side pipe row 30 and a casing-side pipe row 40. Although the number of pipes in each row is set to 6 for simplicity in the drawing, it may be 10 to 20 or more. The respective rows are arranged in parallel such that they are shifted from each other by a half interval in the direction of the axis O to fill the intervals between the refrigerant pipes with each other.

[0031] Here, in the present embodiment, the refrigerant pipe is constituted by two kinds of pipeline. That is, the refrigerant pipe includes a first pipe line 34A through which the refrigerant circulates in a first circumferential direction 33A in the circumferential direction (for example, a rotational direction of the motor 15) before being subjected to heat exchange when introduced into the heat exchanger 60 as illustrated in FIG. 4, and a second pipe line 34B through which the refrigerant before being supplied to heat exchange circulates in a second circumferential direction 33B, which is a direction opposite to the first circumferential direction, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, at one end portion of the two terminal end portions of the heat exchanger 60, every other end portion of the refrigerant pipe is exposed from the uppermost pipe of each pipe row when the direction of the axis O is taken as an upward and downward direction Among the exposed end portions, the end portion of the refrigerant pipe of the casing-side pipe row 40 is a first refrigerant inlet 36A which is a starting point of the first pipe line 34A, and the end portion of the refrigerant pipe of the fan-side pipe row 30 is a first refrigerant outlet 37A. Among the two terminal end portions of the heat exchanger 60, this terminal end portion is defined as a heat exchanger first terminal end portion 38A. The refrigerant sent from the first refrigerant inlet 36A to the first pipe line 34A before being supplied to the heat exchange flows in the first circumferential direction 33A while performing the heat exchange, reaches a second terminal end portion 38B of the heat exchanger which is the terminal end portion of the other heat exchanger 60 via three bends, the other heat, and finishes the first pipe line 34A. Thereafter, the refrigerant flows through a first pipe line inward path 35A via a hairpin pipe 29, is returned to the heat exchanger first terminal end portion 38A, and is led from the first refrigerant outlet 37A outside of the heat exchanger 60.

[0033] At the second terminal end portion 38B of the heat exchanger, every other end portion of the refrigerant pipe is exposed from the second pipe from the top of each pipe row when a depth direction of the casing 7 is set as an upper side. In the heat exchanger second terminal end portions 38B, when the depth direction of the casing 7 is the upward direction, ends of the refrigerant pipes are exposed for every other pipe from the top of each pipe row. Among the exposed end portions, the end portion of the refrigerant pipe of the casing-side pipe row 40 is a second refrigerant inlet 36B which is a starting point of the second pipe line 34B, and the end portion of the refrigerant pipe of the fan-side pipe row 30 is a second refrigerant outlet 37B. The refrigerant sent from the second refrigerant inlet 36B to the second pipe line 34B before being supplied to the heat exchange flows in the second circumferential direction 33B opposite to the first circumferential direction 33A while performing the heat exchange, reaches the heat exchanger first terminal end portion 38A via the three times of bending, and finishes the second pipe line 34B. Thereafter, the refrigerant circulates through the second pipe line inward path 35B via the hairpin pipe 29, is returned to the second terminal end portion 38B of the heat exchanger again, and is led to the outside of the heat exchanger 60 from the second refrigerant outlet 37B.

[0034] With the above configuration, in the heat exchanger 60 according to the present embodiment, the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are arranged alternately in the direction of the axis O with respect to the casing-side pipe row 40, and the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the fan-side pipe row 30.

[0035] In the indoor unit 1 having the above configuration and the air conditioner 100 including the indoor unit 1, when the refrigerant before being applied to the heat exchange is introduced into the heat exchanger 60, the refrigerant is initially distributed to both the first pipe line 34A flowing in the first circumferential direction 33A and the second pipe line 34B flowing in the second circumferential direction 33B.

[0036] When the refrigerant circulates through the first pipe line 34A in the heat exchanger 60, the temperature of the refrigerant increases at the time of the cooling operation and decreases at the time of the heating operation toward the first circumferential direction 33A. On the other hand, when the refrigerant circulates through the second pipe line 34B, the temperature of the refrigerant increases at the time of the cooling operation and decreases at the time of the heating operation toward the second circumferential direction 33B. Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerant increases or decreases in the reverse direction between the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B, the temperature gradients cancel each other, and the deviation of the temperature in the circumferential direction of the heat exchanger 60 is leveled. As a result, the amount of heat exchange in the circumferential direction of the entire heat exchanger 60 is made uniform. This makes it possible to reduce unevenness in temperature depending on the blowing location of the cold and hot wind.

[0037] Further, in the indoor unit 1 having the above-described configuration and the heat exchanger 60 in the air conditioner 100 including the indoor unit 1, the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the casing-side pipe row 40, and the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the fan-side pipe row 30.

[0038] This arrangement means that the number of respective pipe lines of the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B is the corresponding number, that is, equivalent. This makes it possible to provide the second pipe line 34B in the number suitable for canceling the temperature gradient in the first circumferential direction 33A caused by the circulation of the refrigerant in the first circumferential direction 33A. Therefore, the amount of heat exchange in the circumferential direction of the entire heat exchanger 60 can be made more uniform.

[0039] The above arrangement also means that the distribution in the direction of the axis O of the number of each pipe line of the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B in the heat exchanger 60 is uniform. This makes it possible to make the deviation of temperature uniform not only in the circumferential direction but also in the direction of axis O in the entire heat exchanger 60. Thus, it possible to reduce variations in the amount of heat exchange when the air flow varies depending on the position in the direction of the axis O passing through the heat exchanger 60, and the amount of heat exchange is easily leveled in the circumferential direction.

[0040] In addition, when paying attention to each fin 17, since both the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B penetrate with a uniform distribution, the temperature distribution of the fin 17 also becomes more uniform. This makes it possible to make the temperature in the entire heat exchanger more uniform even in the direction of the axis O.

[0041] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the heat exchanger 60 extends while bending over the entire circumference of the casing 7 in the circumferential direction, and only two terminal ends of the heat exchanger 60 are provided. Therefore, the structure of branching and joining of the pipes is not complicated, and the amount of heat exchange can be leveled in the circumferential direction of the casing 7 while having a simple configuration.

[Second Embodiment]

[0042] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. In the second embodiment, components the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will not be provided.

[0043] The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the heat exchanger 61. In the present embodiment, a central portion pipe row 51 having the same number of pipes as the pipe rows is provided at the center of the fan-side pipe row 31 and the casing-side pipe row 41.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the central portion pipe row 51 functions as the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the end points of the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B are the first refrigerant outlet 37A and the second refrigerant outlet 37B. However, in the present embodiment, the end points of the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B are also connected to the hairpin pipe 29, and the fan-side pipe row 30 includes a first pipe line extension outward path 39A and a second pipe line extension outward path 39B.

[0045] Accordingly, in this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, in the heat exchanger first terminal end portion 138A, every other first refrigerant inlet 36A is exposed from the uppermost pipe of the casing-side pipe row 41, and every other second refrigerant outlet 37B is exposed from the second pipe from the uppermost pipe of the fan-side pipe row 31. Further, at the heat exchanger first terminal end portion 138A, the end portion of every other pipe from the second uppermost pipe from the uppermost stage of the casing-side pipe row 41, and every other pipe from the second pipe from the uppermost pipe of the central portion pipe row 51 are connected by a hairpin pipe 29. On the other hand, the end portion of every other pipe from the uppermost stage of the fan-side pipe row 31 and every other pipe from the uppermost pipe of the central portion pipe row 51 are connected by the hairpin pipe 29.

[0046] Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, in the heat exchanger second terminal end portion 138B, the end portion of every other pipe from the uppermost pipe of the casing-side pipe row 41, and every other pipe from the uppermost pipe of the central portion pipe row 51 are connected by the hairpin pipe 29. On the other hand, the end portion of every other pipe from the second pipe from the uppermost stage of the fan-side pipe row 31, and every other pipe from the second pipe from the uppermost stage of the central portion pipe row 51 are connected by the hairpin pipe 29.

[0047] In the indoor unit 201 having the above configuration and the heat exchanger 61 in the air conditioner 101 including the indoor unit 201, the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the casing-side pipe row 41, the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the central portion pipe row 51, and the first pipe line extension outward path 39A and the second pipe line extension outward path 39B are alternately arranged in the direction of the axis O with respect to the fan-side pipe row 31.

[0048] In the indoor unit 1 having the above configuration and the air conditioner 101 including the indoor unit 1, even in the case in which three rows of the refrigerant pipes are provided in the heat exchanger 61 due to the necessity of a large amount of heat exchange, the temperature in the entire heat exchanger 61 can be made uniform for the same reason as described in the explanation of the first embodiment. Thus, the amount of heat exchange in the circumferential direction can be made even more uniform, and unevenness of temperature due to the blowing location of cold and hot wind can be reduced.

[Third Embodiment]

[0049] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. In the third embodiment, the same constituent elements as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will not be provided.

[0050] The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of a heat exchanger 62. In the present embodiment, in the heat exchanger 62, a first pipe line 34A is eccentrically located on a bottom side of the casing 7 in the direction of the axis O, and a second pipe line 34B is eccentrically located on the opening side of the casing 7 in the direction of the axis O.

[0051] Further, the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the second pipe line 34B is larger than the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the first pipe line 34A.

[0052] In the indoor unit 202 having the above configuration and the air conditioner 102 including the indoor unit 202, since the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are intensively provided, respectively, pipe for distributing the refrigerant to the pipe line can be made simpler.

[0053] Here, depending on the structure of the fan 8 and the structure of the outlet 13, when disposing such a pipe, in some cases, the amount of wind on the opening side of the casing 7 may be smaller than that on the bottom surface side. Then, the amount of heat exchange per pipe becomes larger on the bottom side than on the opening side.

[0054] That is, in the case of the above configuration, the amount of heat exchange per pipe constituting the first pipe line 34A increases.

[0055] However, even in this case, since the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the second pipe line 34B is larger than the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the first pipe line 34A, it is possible to make the amount of heat exchange equal to the sum of the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B. This makes it possible to make the amount of heat exchange of the heat exchanger 62 as a whole more uniform and to reduce unevenness of temperature due to the blowing location of cold and hot wind.

[0056] In the first to third embodiments of the present invention described above, the arrangement order of the respective pipe lines is sequenced from the side of the fan 8, In each of the first to third embodiments of the present invention described above, the arrangement order of the respective pipelines is an arrangement in order from the fan 8 side of the first pipe line extension outward path 39A and the second pipe line extension outward path 39B (only in the second embodiment), the first pipe line inward path 35A and the second pipe line inward path 35B, and the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B. As a result, since the air passes in the above order, the air comes into contact with the refrigerant pipes through which the refrigerant is subjected to heat exchange in an order of increasing circulation time the refrigerant applied to the heat exchange circulates for a longer time in order. Therefore, since the temperature of the air slowly decreases particularly at the time of cooling operation, it is difficult for condensation to occur. This effect is particularly strongly illustrated in the second embodiment.

[0057] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, specific configurations are not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included.

[0058] In the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerant pipes are two rows and three rows of the fan-side pipe row and the casing-side pipe row, respectively, but the refrigerant pipes may be four or more rows.

[0059] Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, although the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are arranged alternately in the direction of the axis O, for example, a plurality of pipe lines may be alternately arranged.

[0060] Further, in the first and second embodiments of the present invention, it is assumed that the number of pipe lines of each of the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B is equal. Here, the equivalent number includes an extent that can be regarded as the same number as designed matters within a range not deviating from the gist of the present invention, for example, a case in which the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B differ by 1 or 2 lines

[0061] Further, in the third embodiment, the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B are unevenly distributed upward and downward as an example. However, the first pipe line 34A and the second pipe line 34B may be changed appropriately so that the amount of heat exchange in the direction of the axis O becomes uniform.

[0062] Also, the heat exchanger may not be formed integrally, and may be divided into a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction.

Industrial Applicability

[0063] According to the indoor unit and the air conditioner including the same, it is possible to blow cold and hot wind without temperature unevenness due to the difference in the blowing location, while having a simple constitution.

[0064] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description, and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

[0065] 

100, 101, 102 Air conditioner

200, 201, 202 Indoor unit

2 Outdoor unit

3 Refrigerant circuit

4 Compressor

5 Outdoor unit heat exchanger

6 Inlet

60, 61, 62 Heat exchanger

7 Casing

8 Fan

11 Decorative plate

12 Air filter

13 Outlet

14 Turbo fan

15 Motor

16 Bell mouth

17, 18, 19 Fin

20, 21 Bent portion

30, 31, 32 Fan-side pipe row

40, 41, 42 Casing-side pipe row

51 Central portion pipe row

33A First circumferential direction 33B Second circumferential direction 34A First pipe line

34B Second pipe line

35A First pipe line inward path 35B Second pipe line inward path 36A First refrigerant inlet

36B Second refrigerant inlet

37A First refrigerant outlet

37B Second refrigerant outlet

38A, 138AHeat exchanger first terminal end portion

38B, 138B Heat exchanger second terminal end portion

39A First pipe line extension outward path

39B Second pipe line extension outward path

29 Hairpin pipe

O Axis

Claims

1. An indoor unit (200) comprising:

a fan (8) which blows air by rotating around an axis (O);

a box-like casing (7) which accommodates the fan (8) and opens in one direction in a direction of the axis (O); and

a heat exchanger (60) provided in the casing (7) and extending in a circumferential direction of an opening to surround the fan (8),

wherein the heat exchanger (60) includes:

a plurality of fins (17, 18, 19) which are arranged in the circumferential direction with surfaces facing each other, and

a plurality of refrigerant pipes which pass through the plurality of fins (17, 18, 19) and extend along the circumferential direction,

the plurality of refrigerant pipes has:

a first pipe line (34A) configured to define a flow path for a a refrigerant in a first circumferential direction which is one direction of the circumferential direction, and

a second pipe line (34B) configured to define a flow path for a refrigerant in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction,

a first refrigerant inlet (36A) configured to introduce a refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger (60) toward the first circumferential direction is provided at a starting point of the first pipe line (34A), and

a second refrigerant inlet (36B) configured to introduce a refrigerant from the outside of the heat exchanger (60) toward the second circumferential direction is provided at a starting point of the second pipe line (34B).

2. The indoor unit (200) according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (60) extends continuously over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

3. The indoor unit (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first pipe line (34A) and the second pipe line (34B) are provided in corresponding numbers.

4. The indoor unit (200) according to claim 3, wherein the distribution in the direction of the axis (O) of the number of pipe lines of each of the first pipe line (34A) and the second pipe line (34B) in the heat exchanger (60) is uniform.

5. The indoor unit (200) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the heat exchanger (60), the first pipe line (34A) is deviatedly provided on a bottom side of the casing (7) in the direction of the axis (O), and the second pipe line (34B) is deviatedly provided on an opening side of the casing in the direction of the axis (O), and
the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the second pipe line (34B) is larger than the number of the refrigerant pipes constituting the first pipe line (34A).

6. An air conditioner (100) comprising the indoor unit (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Drawing