Outdoor unit of refrigeration device

Abstract

An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus includes an outdoor heat exchanger, first and second outdoor fans generating an air flow passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, and a fan controller configured to transition from a first operating state to a second operating state during low blow rate demand in which a low blow rate is desired. The first and second outdoor fans operate in the first operating state. The first outdoor fan continues to operate and power supply to the second outdoor fan is cut off in the second operating state. After transitioning to the second operating state, fan on/off control is performed to turn power supply to the first and second outdoor fans on and off based on one of a timer, observation of an electric current value relating to fan motors, and observation of the fan rotational speeds.

1 . An outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger;   a first outdoor fan and a second outdoor fan arranged to generate an air flow passing through the outdoor heat exchanger; and   a fan controller configured to transition from a first operating state to a second operating state during low blow rate demand in which a low blow rate is desired,
 the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan operating in the first operating state, and 
 the first outdoor fan continuing to operate and power supply to the second outdoor fan being cut off in the second operating state, 
   the fan controller being further configured, after transitioning to the second operating state, to perform fan on/off control to turn power supply to the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan on and off based on one of
 a timer, 
 observation of an electric current value relating to fan motors, and 
 observation of the fan rotational speeds. 
   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured, after transitioning to the second operating state, to perform a first control to operate the first outdoor fan at a first rotational speed and to turn power supply to the second outdoor fan on and off within the fan on/off control.   
     
     
         3 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured, after performing the first control within the fan on/off control, to perform a second control to turn power supply to the first outdoor fan on and off and to turn power supply to the second outdoor fan on and off.   
     
     
         4 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured, after performing the second control within the fan on/off control, to perform a third control to turn power supply to the first outdoor fan on and off and to turn off power supply to the second outdoor fan, causing the second outdoor fan to cease rotating.   
     
     
         5 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured to turn
 power supply to the second outdoor fan on and off during the first control, 
 power supply to one of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan on and off during the second control, and 
 power supply to the first outdoor fan on and off during the third control, 
   
       based on one of the condensation temperature and condensation pressure of refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated;   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed;   within the second control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan and then to operate both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speeds of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan have both reached the first rotational speed; and   within the third control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the first outdoor fan and then to operate the first outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the first outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         7 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured to turn power supply to the second outdoor fan on and off during the first control, based on one of the condensation temperature and condensation pressure of refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         8 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated; and   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         9 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated; and   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         10 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the fan controller is further configured to turn
 power supply to the second outdoor fan on and off during the first control and power supply to one of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan on and off during the second control, 
   
       based on one of the condensation temperature and condensation pressure of refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated;   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed; and   in the second control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan and then to operate both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speeds of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan have both reached the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         12 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated;   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed; and   within the second control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan and then to operate both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speeds of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan have both reached the first rotational speed.   
     
     
         13 . The outdoor unit of a refrigeration apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the first rotational speed is a minimum rotational speed at which the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan can be operated;   within the first control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the second outdoor fan and then to operate the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the second outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed;   within the second control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan and then to operate both the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speeds of the first outdoor fan and the second outdoor fan have both reached the first rotational speed; and   within the third control, the fan controller is further configured to turn on power supply to the first outdoor fan and then to operate the first outdoor fan at the first rotational speed after rotational speed of the first outdoor fan has reached the first rotational speed.