Air conditioner with a cooling module

Abstract

An air conditioner includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The air conditioner further includes an electric unit including electric components to operate the air conditioner. A cooling module is disposed at least on a side of the electric unit to dissipate heat generated from the electric unit, and at least a portion of the refrigerant tube supply refrigerant discharged from the evaporator to the cooling module. The refrigerant supplied to the cooling module exchanges heat with the electric unit and then flows to the compressor.

1 . An air conditioner comprising: a compressor; a condenser; an expansion device; and an evaporator; the air conditioner further comprising;
 an electric unit including electric components to operate the air conditioner;   a cooling module disposed at least on a side of the electric unit to dissipate heat generated from the electric unit; and   at least a portion of a refrigerant tube to supply refrigerant discharged from the evaporator to the cooling module,   wherein the refrigerant supplied to the cooling module exchanges heat with the electric unit and then flows to the compressor.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant tube comprises:
 a main tube connected to an outlet side of the evaporator; and   a branch tube branching off from the main tube to the cooling module.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , further comprising a flow controller to control an amount of the refrigerant flowing in the main tube into the branch tube. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric components comprises at least one heating component that generates heat during operation, and
 the at least one heating component is placed at the electric unit such that the cooling module is capable of making contact with the at least one heating component.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein the cooling module comprises:
 a module body making contact with the at least one heating component; and   at least one passage in the module body to allow the refrigerant to flow therethrough.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one passage comprises:
 an inlet passage through which the refrigerant flows into the module body;   an outlet passage through which the refrigerant is discharged from the module body; and   a plurality of branch passages through which the refrigerant flows from the inlet passage to the outlet passage.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one heating component is disposed between a bottom side of the electric unit and a top side of the cooling module. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein the electric unit is divided into at least two sub-portions, and the at least one heating component is disposed on at least one of the sub-portions, and the electric unit further comprises a connection member connecting at least two of the sub-portions. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant tube is disposed in the cooling module. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein the cooling module includes at least one groove and the cooling module is inserted into the groove. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner according to  claim 9 , wherein the refrigerant tube is bent at least one time to form a U shape. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner according to  claim 2 , further comprising a joint part where the branch tube coupled to an output side of the cooling module couples back to the main tube. 
     
     
         13 . An air conditioner comprising: a compressor; a condenser; an expansion device; and an evaporator; the air conditioner further comprising;
 an electric unit including electric components to operate the air conditioner;   a cooling module disposed on a side of the electric unit to dissipate heat generated from the electric unit; and   at least a portion of a refrigerant tube to supply refrigerant discharged from the condenser to the cooling module, wherein the refrigerant supplied to the cooling module exchanges heat with the electric unit and then flows to the evaporator.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant tube comprises:
 a main tube connected to an outlet side of the condenser; and   a branch tube branching off from the main tube to the cooling module.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner according to  claim 14 , further comprising a flow controller to control an amount of the refrigerant flowing in the main tube into the branch tube. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner according to  claim 15 , wherein the expansion valve is coupled to the main tube and the branch tube couples the cooling module in parallel with the expansion valve. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner according to  claim 15 , wherein the outlet of the cooling module is coupled to the expansion valve. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner according to  claim 15 , wherein the outlet of the cooling module is coupled to a different expansion valve. 
     
     
         19 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the electric components comprises at least one heating component that generates heat during operation, and
 the at least one heating component is placed at the electric unit such that the cooling module is capable of making contact with the at least one heating component.   
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the cooling module comprises:
 a module body making contact with the at least one heating component; and   at least one passage in the module body to allow the refrigerant to flow therethrough.