FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
OUTDOOR UNIT AND AIR CONDITIONER
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 1008310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.DESCRIPTION
Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit
including a housing and a heat exchanger, and an air
conditioner including the same.5
Background
[0002] An air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an
outdoor unit connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe.
The outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses a10
refrigerant, an expansion valve that decompresses the
compressed refrigerant, a four-way valve that switches a
flow path of the refrigerant, a heat exchanger that performs
heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, and a fan
that generates an airflow passing through the heat exchanger.15
[0003] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner has a
structure in which the inside of a housing is partitioned
into an air-blowing chamber and a machine chamber by a
partition plate, an air-blowing machine, the heat exchanger,
and the like are disposed in the air-blowing chamber, and20
the compressor, the expansion valve, the four-way valve, and
the like are disposed in the machine chamber. A first
control board that controls the compressor, the expansion
valve, and the four-way valve, and a second control board
that controls the fan are disposed on a heat sink that is25
installed over the partition plate and separates the air-
blowing chamber and the machine chamber together with the
partition plate.
[0004] During operation of the air conditioner, the first
control board and the second control board emit heat. As30
described above, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner
includes a plurality of heating elements. The heat sink
includes fins protruding toward the air-blowing chamber in
3
order to dissipate heat emitted by these heating elements.
[0005] Patent Literature 1 discloses an outdoor unit in
which in order to avoid interference of fins with a fan, a
fin length increases stepwise from a lower portion to an
upper portion of a heat sink. In the outdoor unit disclosed5
in Patent Literature 1, the upper portion of the heat sink
where fins having a long fin length are installed has high
heat dissipation performance, and the lower portion of the
heat sink where fins having a short fin length are installed
has low heat dissipation performance.10
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0006] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application
Laid-open No. 2020-18070915
Summary of Invention
Problem to be solved by the Invention
[0007] However, in the outdoor unit disclosed in Patent
Literature 1, when there are a plurality of heating elements20
to be cooled by the heat sink, the heat dissipation
performance of a heating element disposed at the upper
portion of the heat sink deteriorates due to the influence
of heat from a heating element disposed at the lower portion
of the heat sink, which is a problem.25
[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of
the above, and an object thereof is to provide an outdoor
unit that reduces the occurrence of heating elements with
insufficient heat dissipation caused by being disposed at
the lower portion of the heat sink where fins having a short30
fin length are installed.
4
Means to Solve the Problem
[0009] In order to solve the above-described problems and
achieve the object, an outdoor unit according to the present
disclosure comprises: a housing; a fan to generate an airflow
passing through the housing, the fan being accommodated in5
the housing; a compressor to compress a refrigerant, the
compressor being accommodated in the housing; a heat
exchanger to cause heat exchange between the refrigerant and
the airflow, the heat exchanger being accommodated in the
housing; a partition plate separating an inside of the10
housing into a machine chamber in which the compressor is
installed and an air-blowing chamber in which the fan is
installed; a heat sink installed at an upper portion of the
partition plate and separating the machine chamber and the
air-blowing chamber together with the partition plate; and15
a plurality of heating elements to emit heat when at least
one of the compressor or the fan is driven. The heat sink
includes a base portion in a plate shape and a heat
dissipation portion provided on one surface of the base
portion, and the heat dissipation portion includes fins in20
a flat-plate shape having fin lengths that differ stepwise
in at least two steps. Each of the plurality of heating
elements is disposed on another surface of the base portion
so as to at least partially overlap a region on the one
surface where fins not having a shortest fin length are25
installed.
Effects of the Invention
[0010] The outdoor unit according to the present
disclosure achieves an effect that it is possible to reduce30
the occurrence of heating elements with insufficient heat
dissipation caused by being disposed at the lower portion of
the heat sink where fins having a short fin length are
5
installed.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0011] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of
an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.5
FIG. 2 is a front view of an outdoor unit according to
the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit
according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating some10
components of the outdoor unit according to the first
embodiment, the components being extracted.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor15
unit according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a modification of the third embodiment.20
FIG. 9 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a fourth embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the heat sink of the
outdoor unit according to a fifth embodiment.
25
Description of Embodiments
[0012] Hereinafter, an outdoor unit and an air
conditioner according to embodiments will be described in
detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013] First Embodiment.30
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an air
conditioner according to a first embodiment. An air
conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor
6
unit 2. The indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are
connected via a gas connection pipe 3a and a liquid
connection pipe 3b. The gas connection pipe 3a and the
liquid connection pipe 3b are collectively referred to as a
refrigerant pipe 3, as well. The refrigerant pipe 3 is5
filled with a refrigerant, and the refrigerant circulates
between the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 via the
refrigerant pipe 3, and thereby the air conditioner 100
performs heat exchange between indoors and outdoors.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of the outdoor unit10
according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective
view of the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating some components of
the outdoor unit according to the first embodiment, the
components being extracted. In FIG. 3, a housing 20 is not15
illustrated. The outdoor unit 2 includes the housing 20, a
compressor 4, an expansion valve 5, a heat exchanger 7, a
fan 8, a control board 9, and a partition plate 11. The
housing 20 accommodates the compressor 4, the expansion valve
5, the heat exchanger 7, the fan 8, the control board 9, and20
the partition plate 11 therein. The refrigerant pipe 3 is
connected to the housing 20.
[0015] The refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant
pipe 3, the compressor 4, the expansion valve 5, the heat
exchanger 7, and a heat exchanger included in the indoor25
unit 1, and thereby a refrigeration cycle is formed. The
compressor 4 compresses the refrigerant. The heat exchanger
7 causes heat exchange between the refrigerant and air. The
fan 8 rotates to draw air from the outside of the housing 20
and blow the air to the outside of the housing 20. The air30
drawn from the outside of the housing 20 passes through the
heat exchanger 7. When the air passes through the heat
exchanger 7, heat exchange is performed between the air and
7
the heat exchanger 7. The control board 9 includes a first
control board 9a that controls the compressor 4 and a second
control board 9b that controls the fan 8. The first control
board 9a is a first heating element that emits heat when the
compressor 4 is driven. The second control board 9b is a5
second heating element that emits heat when the fan 8 is
driven. As described above, the control board 9 includes a
plurality of heating elements that emit heat when at least
one of the compressor 4 or the fan 8 is driven. The first
control board 9a emits a larger amount of heat than the10
second control board 9b. The partition plate 11 and a heat
sink 6 installed above the partition plate 11 separate the
inside of the housing 20 into an air-blowing chamber 50 in
which the heat exchanger 7 and the fan 8 are installed and
a machine chamber 51 in which the control board 9, the15
compressor 4, and the expansion valve 5 are installed.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of the heat sink of the
outdoor unit according to the first embodiment. The heat
sink 6 includes a base portion 61 and a heat dissipation
portion 62. The base portion 61 has a plate shape and20
constitutes a part of a wall separating the air-blowing
chamber 50 and the machine chamber 51. The heat dissipation
portion 62 rises from one surface of the base portion 61 and
is disposed on a side of the air-blowing chamber 50. The
heat dissipation portion 62 includes first fins 621 and25
second fins 622. The first fins 621 and the second fins 622
are aligned in the vertical direction, and the first fins
621 are disposed above the second fins 622. In order to
avoid interference with the fan 8, a fin length of the second
fins 622 is shorter than a fin length of the first fins 621.30
In the following description, a portion of the heat sink 6
where the first fins 621 are installed is referred to as a
first heat sink region 611, and a portion thereof where the
8
second fins 622 are installed is referred to as a second
heat sink region 612. Since the fin length of the second
fins 622 is shorter than the fin length of the first fins
621, the heat dissipation performance of the first fins 621
as a whole in the first heat sink region 611 is higher than5
the heat dissipation performance of the second fins 622 as
a whole in the second heat sink region 612.
[0017] The first control board 9a and the second control
board 9b are installed to be aligned in the horizontal
direction and in contact with another surface of the base10
portion 61. Each of the first control board 9a and the
second control board 9b is disposed so as to at least
partially overlap the first heat sink region 611.
[0018] If one of the first control board 9a and the second
control board 9b is disposed so as to overlap only the second15
heat sink region 612, heat generated during operation cannot
be completely dissipated from the second fins 622, and the
heat may be trapped to increase the temperature. When the
temperature of one of the first control board 9a and the
second control board 9b increases, heat radiated from one of20
the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b
heats the other of the first control board 9a and the second
control board 9b. Therefore, when one of the first control
board 9a and the second control board 9b is disposed only in
the second heat sink region 612, the temperatures of both25
the first control board 9a and the second control board 9b
increase, which may cause malfunction.
[0019] In the outdoor unit 2 according to the first
embodiment, since each of the first control board 9a and the
second control board 9b is disposed so as to at least30
partially overlap the first heat sink region 611, the heat
emitted by each of the first control board 9a and the second
control board 9b is dissipated not only from the second fins
9
622 but also from the first fins 621. Accordingly, in the
outdoor unit 2 according to the first embodiment, it is
possible to reduce insufficient heat dissipation of portions
of the first control board 9a and the second control board
9b disposed in the second heat sink region 612 at a lower5
portion of the heat sink 6 where the second fins 622 having
a short fin length are installed. Therefore, the outdoor
unit 2 according to the first embodiment can reduce an
adverse effect of the heat emitted from one of the first
control board 9a and the second control board 9b on the other10
of the first control board 9a and the second control board
9b. Accordingly, there is no need to enhance the heat
dissipation performance by increasing the size of the heat
sink 6, or to increase the amount of heat storage by
increasing the sizes of the first control board 9a and the15
second control board 9b.
[0020] Here, the configuration has been described in
which the heat dissipation portion 62 includes two types of
fins having different fin lengths, i.e., the first fins 621
and the second fins 622, but the heat dissipation portion 6220
may include three or more types of fins having different
lengths. In that case, each of the first control board 9a
and the second control board 9b is installed so as to at
least partially overlap a portion other than a heat sink
region where shortest fins are disposed, and thereby an25
increase in the temperatures of the first control board 9a
and the second control board 9b can be reduced.
[0021] Second Embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a second embodiment. In the heat sink 630
of the outdoor unit 2 according to the second embodiment, a
heat transfer sheet 63 is installed on the base portion 61,
and the first control board 9a and the second control board10
9b are installed on the base portion 61 via the heat transfer
sheet 63. The heat transfer sheet 63 is disposed across the
first heat sink region 611 and the second heat sink region
612.
[0022] The first control board 9a and the second control5
board 9b are disposed to be aligned in the vertical direction.
The first control board 9a is in contact with the heat
transfer sheet 63 in the first heat sink region 611, and the
second control board 9b is in contact with the heat transfer
sheet 63 in the second heat sink region 612.10
[0023] The heat generated in the second control board 9b
is partially transferred to the first heat sink region 611
via the heat transfer sheet 63. Therefore, by transferring
the heat of the second control board 9b disposed in the
second heat sink region 612 to the first heat sink region15
611 by the heat transfer sheet 63, it is possible to reduce
heat trapped in the second control board 9b disposed in the
second heat sink region 612. Therefore, in the outdoor unit
2 according to the second embodiment, even if the second
control board 9b disposed in the second heat sink region 61220
is not increased in size to increase the amount of heat
storage, it is possible to reduce insufficient heat
dissipation of the second control board 9b disposed in the
second heat sink region 612 at the lower portion of the heat
sink 6 where the second fins 622 having a short fin length25
are installed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to
the second embodiment can reduce an adverse effect of the
heat emitted by the second control board 9b on the first
control board 9a.
[0024] Third Embodiment.30
FIG. 7 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a third embodiment. In the heat sink 6 of
the outdoor unit 2 according to the third embodiment, the
11
thickness of the base portion 61 is different between the
first heat sink region 611 and the second heat sink region
612. The thickness of the base portion 61 in the second
heat sink region 612 is larger than the thickness of the
base portion 61 in the first heat sink region 611. Therefore,5
the amount of heat storage per unit area of the base portion
61 in the second heat sink region 612 is larger than the
amount of heat storage per unit area of the base portion 61
in the first heat sink region 611. The thickness of the
base portion 61 is changed such that a side on which the10
heat dissipation portion 62 is formed is projected.
[0025] In the outdoor unit 2 according to the third
embodiment, since the amount of heat storage per unit area
of the base portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is
larger than the amount of heat storage per unit area of the15
base portion 61 in the first heat sink region 611, the base
portion 61 in the second heat sink region 612 is less likely
to be thermally saturated. Accordingly, heat emitted by the
second control board 9b disposed in the second heat sink
region 612 is less likely to be trapped in the second control20
board 9b. Consequently, in the outdoor unit 2 according to
the third embodiment, it is possible to reduce insufficient
heat dissipation of the second control board 9b disposed in
the second heat sink region 612 at the lower portion of the
heat sink 6 where the second fins 622 having a short fin25
length are installed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 2
according to the third embodiment can reduce an adverse
effect of the heat emitted by the second control board 9b on
the first control board 9a.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a side view of the heat sink of the30
outdoor unit according to a modification of the third
embodiment. In the heat sink 6 of the outdoor unit 2
according to the modification of the third embodiment, the
12
thickness of the base portion 61 is changed such that a
surface opposite to a surface on which the heat dissipation
portion 62 is formed is projected. In the heat sink 6
according to the modification of the third embodiment, since
the surface of the base portion 61 on the side where the5
heat dissipation portion 62 is provided is flat, the fin
length of the second fins 622 can be increased as compared
with the heat sink 6 according to the third embodiment.
Accordingly, in the heat sink 6 according to the modification
of the third embodiment, the heat dissipation performance in10
the second heat sink region 612 can be further enhanced than
in the heat sink 6 according to the third embodiment.
Therefore, the heat sink 6 according to the modification of
the third embodiment can reduce an adverse effect of the
heat emitted by the second control board 9b on the first15
control board 9a.
[0027] Fourth Embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the heat sink of the outdoor
unit according to a fourth embodiment. In the heat sink 6
of the outdoor unit 2 according to the fourth embodiment,20
the fin pitch of the first fins 621 is different from the
fin pitch of the second fins 622. The fin pitch of the first
fins 621 is larger than the fin pitch of the second fins 622,
and the number of first fins 621 is smaller than the number
of second fins 622. Therefore, the fin surface area of the25
first fins 621 as a whole in the first heat sink region 611
is smaller than the fin surface area of the second fins 622
as a whole in the second heat sink region 612.
[0028] In the outdoor unit 2 according to the fourth
embodiment, since the surface area of the second fins 622 as30
a whole disposed in the second heat sink region 612 is larger
than the surface area of the first fins 621 as a whole
disposed in the first heat sink region 611, heat generated
13
in the second control board 9b can be efficiently dissipated.
Accordingly, heat emitted by the second control board 9b
disposed in the second heat sink region 612 is less likely
to be trapped in the second control board 9b. Consequently,
in the outdoor unit 2 according to the fourth embodiment, it5
is possible to reduce insufficient heat dissipation of the
second control board 9b disposed in the second heat sink
region 612 at the lower portion of the heat sink 6 where the
second fins 622 having a short fin length are installed.
Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to the fourth10
embodiment can reduce an adverse effect of the heat emitted
by the second control board 9b on the first control board
9a.
[0029] Fifth Embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the heat sink of the15
outdoor unit according to a fifth embodiment. In FIG. 10,
only one first fin 621 and one second fin 622 are illustrated,
and the rest are not illustrated. In the heat sink 6 of the
outdoor unit 2 according to the fifth embodiment, the
perimeter/cross-sectional area ratio of the first fin 621 is20
different from the perimeter/cross-sectional area ratio of
the second fin 622. The perimeter/cross-sectional area ratio
is a ratio between the perimeter and the cross-sectional
area in the cross section of the fin, and is defined as a
value obtained by dividing the perimeter by the cross-25
sectional area. The perimeter/cross-sectional area ratio of
the second fin 622 is larger than the perimeter/cross-
sectional area ratio of the first fin 621.
[0030] If fins are made of the same material, the amount
of heat that can be stored in one fin is determined depending30
on the volume of the fin. Therefore, in a case where the
fin lengths are the same, the amount of heat that can be
stored in one fin is determined depending on the cross-
14
sectional area of the fin. On the other hand, heat
dissipation from a fin depends on the surface area of the
fin, and the larger the surface area, the higher the heat
dissipation performance. Accordingly, if the fin lengths
and the cross-sectional areas of the fins are the same, the5
larger the surface area, the further the fin efficiency is
improved.
[0031] The surface area of the fin is represented by the
product of the perimeter of the fin and the fin length. A
fin having a rectangular cross section with a thickness d10
and a width W has a cross-sectional area dW, and a perimeter
of the fin is 2(d+W). Here, it is assumed that the first
fin 621 has a thickness d1 and a width W1, and the second
fin 622 has a thickness d2 and a width W2. The
perimeter/cross-sectional area ratio of the first fin 621 is15
2(d1+W1)/(d1×W1), and the perimeter/cross-sectional area
ratio of the second fin 622 is 2(d2+W2)/(d2×W2). Accordingly,
the heat sink 6 according to the fifth embodiment satisfies
the condition of {2(d2+W2)/(d2×W2)}>{2(d1+W1)/(d1×W1)}.
Here, assuming that the fin length of the first fin 621 is20
L1 and the fin length of the second fin 622 is L2, if
L1×2(d2+W2)/(d2×W2)>L2×2(d1+W1)/(d1×W1) is satisfied, the
fin efficiency of the second fin 622 is higher than the fin
efficiency of the first fin 621.
[0032] In the heat sink 6 according to the fifth25
embodiment, the fin efficiency of the second fins 622 is
higher than the fin efficiency of the first fins 621.
Accordingly, heat emitted by the second control board 9b
disposed in the second heat sink region 612 is less likely
to be trapped in the second control board 9b. Consequently,30
in the outdoor unit 2 according to the fifth embodiment, it
is possible to reduce insufficient heat dissipation of the
second control board 9b disposed in the second heat sink
15
region 612 at the lower portion of the heat sink 6 where the
second fins 622 having a short fin length are installed.
Therefore, the outdoor unit 2 according to the fifth
embodiment can reduce an adverse effect of the heat emitted
by the second control board 9b on the first control board5
9a.
[0033] In the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment,
and the fifth embodiment, the heat sink 6 that includes the
heat transfer sheet 63 has been described. However, the
heat transfer sheet 63 may be omitted, and the first control10
board 9a and the second control board 9b may be brought into
contact with another surface of the base portion 61.
[0034] The configurations described in the embodiments
above are merely examples of the content and can be combined
with other known technology and part of the configurations15
can be omitted or modified without departing from the gist
thereof.
Reference Signs List
[0035] 1 indoor unit; 2 outdoor unit; 3 refrigerant20
pipe; 3a gas connection pipe; 3b liquid connection pipe;
4 compressor; 5 expansion valve; 6 heat sink; 7 heat
exchanger; 8 fan; 9 control board; 9a first control board;
9b second control board; 11 partition plate; 20 housing;
50 air-blowing chamber; 51 machine chamber; 61 base25
portion; 62 heat dissipation portion; 63 heat transfer
sheet; 100 air conditioner; 611 first heat sink region;
612 second heat sink region; 621 first fin; 622 second
fin.

16
WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1] An outdoor unit (2) comprising:
a housing (20);
a fan (8) to generate an airflow passing through the5
housing (20), the fan (8) being accommodated in the housing
(20);
a compressor (4) to compress a refrigerant, the
compressor (4) being accommodated in the housing (20);
a heat exchanger (7) to cause heat exchange between the10
refrigerant and the airflow, the heat exchanger (7) being
accommodated in the housing (20);
a partition plate (11) separating an inside of the
housing (20) into a machine chamber (51) in which the
compressor (4) is installed and an air-blowing chamber (50)15
in which the fan (8) is installed;
a heat sink (6) installed at an upper portion of the
partition plate (11) and separating the machine chamber (51)
and the air-blowing chamber (50) together with the partition
plate (11); and20
a plurality of heating elements (9) to emit heat when
at least one of the compressor (4) or the fan (8) is driven,
wherein
the heat sink (6) includes a base portion (61) in a
plate shape and a heat dissipation portion (62) provided on25
one surface of the base portion (61), and the heat
dissipation portion (62) includes fins (621, 622) in a flat-
plate shape having fin lengths that differ stepwise in at
least two steps, and
each of the plurality of heating elements (9) is30
disposed on another surface of the base portion (61) so as
to at least partially overlap a region on the one surface
where fins (621) not having a shortest fin length are
17
installed.
[Claim 2] The outdoor unit (2) according to claim 1, wherein
the heat dissipation portion (62) comprises first fins
(621) and second fins (622) having a shorter fin length than5
the first fins (621) and disposed below the first fins (621),
and
the plurality of heating elements (9) include a first
control board (9a) that drives a compressor (4) and a second
control board (9b) that drives a fan (8).10
[Claim 3] An outdoor unit (2) comprising:
a housing (20);
a fan (8) to generate an airflow passing through the
housing (20), the fan (8) being accommodated in the housing15
(20);
a compressor (4) to compress a refrigerant, the
compressor (4) being accommodated in the housing (20);
a heat exchanger (7) to cause heat exchange between the
refrigerant and the airflow, the heat exchanger (7) being20
accommodated in the housing (20);
a partition plate (11) separating an inside of the
housing (20) into a machine chamber (51) in which the
compressor (4) is installed and an air-blowing chamber (50)
in which the fan (8) is installed;25
a heat sink (6) installed at an upper portion of the
partition plate (11) and separating the machine chamber (51)
and the air-blowing chamber (50) together with the partition
plate (11);
a first heating element (9a) to emit heat when the30
compressor (4) is driven; and
a second heating element (9b) to emit heat when the fan
(8) is driven, wherein
18
the heat sink (6) includes a base portion (61) in a
plate shape, a heat dissipation portion (62) provided on one
surface of the base portion (61), and a heat transfer sheet
(63) installed on a surface of the base portion (61) opposite
to the surface on which the heat dissipation portion (62) is5
provided,
the heat dissipation portion (62) comprises first fins
(621) and second fins (622) having a shorter fin length than
the first fins (621) and disposed below the first fins (621),
the heat transfer sheet (63) is installed across a first10
heat sink region (611) that is a portion where the first
fins (621) are installed and a second heat sink region (612)
that is a portion where the second fins (622) are installed,
the first heating element (9a) is in contact with the
heat transfer sheet (63) in the first heat sink region (611),15
and
the second heating element (9b) is in contact with the
heat transfer sheet (63) in the second heat sink region (612).
[Claim 4] An outdoor unit (2) comprising:20
a housing (20);
a fan (8) to generate an airflow passing through the
housing (20), the fan (8) being accommodated in the housing
(20);
a compressor (4) to compress a refrigerant, the25
compressor (4) being accommodated in the housing (20);
a heat exchanger (7) to cause heat exchange between the
refrigerant and the airflow, the heat exchanger (7) being
accommodated in the housing (20);
a partition plate (11) separating an inside of the30
housing (20) into a machine chamber (51) in which the
compressor (4) is installed and an air-blowing chamber (50)
in which the fan (8) is installed;
19
a heat sink (6) installed at an upper portion of the
partition plate (11) and separating the machine chamber (51)
and the air-blowing chamber (50) together with the partition
plate (11);
a first heating element (9a) to emit heat when the5
compressor (4) is driven; and
a second heating element (9b) to emit heat when the fan
(8) is driven, wherein
the heat sink (6) includes a base portion (61) in a
plate shape and a heat dissipation portion (62) provided on10
one surface of the base portion (61),
the heat dissipation portion (62) comprises first fins
(621) and second fins (622) having a shorter fin length than
the first fins (621) and disposed below the first fins (621),
15
the first heating element (9a) and the second heating
element (9b) are in contact with another surface of the
base portion (61), and
in the base portion (61), a portion where fins (622)
having a shorter fin length are installed has a larger20
thickness.
[Claim 5] The outdoor unit (2) according to claim 4, wherein
in the heat dissipation portion (62), fins (622) having a25
shorter fin length have a larger surface area of the fins
(622) as a whole.
[Claim 6] The outdoor unit (2) according to claim 4, wherein
in the heat dissipation portion (62), fins (622) having a30
shorter fin length exhibit higher fin efficiency.
[Claim 7] The outdoor unit (2) according to any one of claims
20
4 to 6, wherein
the heat sink (6) includes a heat transfer sheet (63)
installed on another surface of the base portion (61) across
a first heat sink region (611) where the first fins (621)
are installed and a second heat sink region (612) where the5
second fins (622) are installed,
the first heating element (9a) is installed on the heat
transfer sheet (63) at a portion of the first heat sink
region (611), and
the second heating element (9b) is installed on the10
heat transfer sheet (63) at a portion of the second heat
sink region (612).
[Claim 8] An air conditioner (100) comprising the outdoor
unit (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and an indoor15
unit (1).