Flow guide and air management device having same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flow guide and an air management device having same, wherein ribs (20) are formed in rows, along the rotation axis direction of a driving fan (32), on a curved surface (18) which is formed on a surface of the flow guide (14) and has a predetermined radius of curvature. The ribs (20) are extended in the direction that the air is guided by the curved surface (18) to flow. Each rib (20) induces the airflow coming from the driving fan (32) to form a vortex, which then merges with surrounding airflows, thus creating a uniform airflow.

Description

Flow guide and air management device equipped therewith

[0001] The present invention relates to a flow guide that guides the flow of air and an air management device having the same.

[0002] An air management system (AMS) is designed to maintain the air within a given space in an optimal condition, depending on its intended purpose. For example, in the summer, it can discharge indoor heat to the outside, lowering the indoor air temperature. In the winter, it can also increase the temperature of the exhausted air, ensuring that the indoor air remains relatively warmer than the outdoor air. Alternatively, it can purify the air within a given space and re-circulate it.

[0003] Among these air management devices, wall-mounted air conditioners use a cross-flow fan to generate airflow. As the air from the cross-flow fan is guided to the curved surface of the flow guide, the flow develops and is discharged to the outside.

[0004] In prior art document 1, Korean Patent No. 10-0406035, airflow generated by a cross-flow fan in a wall-mounted air conditioner is guided by a duct member and flows from the cross-flow fan. The airflow guided by the duct member is discharged to the outside through an outlet.

[0005] Prior art document 2, Korean Publication No. 20-1999-0007257, discloses a wall-mounted air conditioner of the same type as prior art document 1. As can be seen in the drawing, the blower fan of prior art document 2 has blades divided into multiple groups, and the receiving portion corresponding to the duct member of prior art document 1 where the blower fan is positioned is a curved surface without any protrusions.

[0006] Traditionally, flow through cross-flow fans has generally been assumed to be two-dimensional, with the actual three-dimensional flow along the fan's axial direction not considered. Therefore, in conditions where three-dimensional flow is active, it can actually impede discharge and reduce fan performance.

[0007] Figure 1 shows the flow characteristics created as the airflow from the cross-flow fan follows the flow guide. That is, the rotational velocity and velocity distribution are shown in color and vector format on four planes at 15° intervals from -90° to -45° in the direction of rotation of the cross-flow fan, respectively. Unlike the theory that assumes the flow around the cross-flow fan to be two-dimensional, it can be seen that the rotational velocity in the axial direction of the cross-flow fan is different. That is, the counter-rotating streamwise vortex (C-rv) that develops between the cross-flow fan and the flow guide causes the vortex to locally have a high velocity where it meets. In particular, the vortex has the largest velocity when it collides with the wall of the flow guide, resulting in a repetitive pattern of velocity in the axial direction.

[0008] This can also be confirmed through the 3D vortex structure in Fig. 2. The left figure of Fig. 2 colors the vortex structure with vorticity (degree of vortex) (red (5000) and blue (-5000) indicate opposite vortex directions), and it can be seen that vortices with opposite vorticity signs develop. The right figure shows an area with a large velocity, and it can be seen that areas with high velocities develop repeatedly. The area marked in green here is an area where the flow velocity is, for example, 10 m / s. Although most of the flow velocity is 10 m / s, it can be seen that there are many areas where this is not the case.

[0009] In this way, the flow discharged from the cross-flow fan and flowing along the flow guide has a three-dimensional flow characteristic in which the flow velocity deviates in the axial direction due to streamline-directed vortices, and thus flow loss occurs as flows with different flow velocities are mixed along the flow guide.

[0010] This phenomenon is a common phenomenon in products that use cross-flow fans, and is caused by frictional resistance due to the walls on the left and right of the discharge port and the unevenness of the eccentric vortex inside the cross-flow fan. As the unevenness of the flow increases, the flow loss increases, which leads to higher power consumption and increased noise.

[0011] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, and to form a vortex by installing a rib that guides the flow of air along the curved surface of a flow guide constituting a discharge path.

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to make the discharge flow stable by utilizing the energy of the vortex generated when coming out of the driving fan and being guided by the ribs of the flow guide.

[0013] The purpose of the present invention is to guide and stabilize the air flow before an imbalance occurs in the air flow from the driving fan.

[0014] According to a feature of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention arranges a plurality of ribs extending in the air flow direction in a row on a flow guide.

[0015] The flow guide of the present invention is a flow guide that is installed to face a driving fan at a predetermined distance on a path through which air flows and guides the flow of air, wherein a surface of the flow guide that guides the flow of air is a curved surface facing the driving fan, and a rib formed to extend in the direction of air flow can be positioned on the curved surface.

[0016] The above ribs can be arranged in rows in the width direction of the curved surface at a predetermined interval.

[0017] The rib may be arranged in the upstream portion of the curved surface, or the rib may be arranged in the midstream portion of the curved surface.

[0018] In the above flow guide, the curved surface is formed to have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the driving fan, and the distance between the outer surface of the driving fan and the curved surface can gradually increase from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the flow.

[0019] The rib extends in the direction of air flow with a predetermined width and a length longer than the width, and the upper surface of the leading end of the rib becomes a plane continuous with the surface of the curved surface, and the extent to which the rib protrudes from the curved surface may increase as it goes from the leading end to the rear end of the rib.

[0020] The above ribs can be formed with rounded corners.

[0021] The air management device of the present invention may include a housing having an intake port through which air from an indoor space is sucked in and an exhaust port through which air is discharged into the indoor space, a driving fan for creating air flow through the intake port and the exhaust port, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between air and a working fluid as the air flow by the driving fan passes therethrough, and a flow guide having a predetermined curved surface facing an outer surface of the driving fan through which air discharged from the driving fan is guided, and ribs formed to extend in the direction of air flow may be arranged in rows at predetermined intervals in the direction of the rotation axis of the driving fan on the curved surface of the flow guide.

[0022] The rib may be arranged in the upstream portion of the curved surface, or the rib may be arranged in the midstream portion of the curved surface.

[0023] The above ribs can be arranged in the upper and middle portions of the curved surface, respectively.

[0024] The curved surface of the above fluid guide can be formed to have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the driving fan.

[0025] The rib extends in the direction of air flow with a predetermined width and a length longer than the width, and the upper surface of the leading end of the rib becomes a plane continuous with the surface of the curved surface, and the extent to which the rib protrudes from the curved surface may increase as it goes from the leading end to the rear end of the rib.

[0026] The above ribs can be formed with rounded corners.

[0027] One outer surface of the above-mentioned driving fan is installed so as to have a predetermined gap between it and the curved surface of the above-mentioned flow guide, and the gap may be formed to gradually increase as it goes downstream of the air flow guided by the above-mentioned flow guide.

[0028] The flow guide according to the present invention and the air management device having the same may have at least one of the following effects.

[0029] In the present invention, a plurality of ribs extending in a direction corresponding to the rotational direction of the driving fan are installed at predetermined intervals on the curved surface of a flow guide having a curved surface facing the outer surface of the driving fan. In particular, the ribs are placed in the upstream or midstream portion where the air flow from the driving fan proceeds. Therefore, when the air from the driving fan flows over the surface of the flow guide at a high speed, it collides with the ribs to generate a vortex, thereby obtaining energy, and through this, the uneven air flow from the driving fan is mixed with each other to become stable.

[0030] The above ribs are formed in the upstream or midstream portion of the airflow from the driving fan along the flow guide. This allows for the correction of uneven airflow in the initial or midstream portion of the airflow along the flow guide, thereby reducing power consumption and noise generation when compared to the same airflow rate.

[0031] Figure 1 is a graph showing the rotational flow velocity and velocity vector distribution for two blocks of a cross-flow fan in the prior art, classified by dot size.

[0032] Figure 2 is a graph showing a three-dimensional flow structure formed by a cross-flow fan in a conventional technology as dots.

[0033] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the internal configuration of an air management device of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view showing the internal configuration of an air management device of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a chassis equipped with a fluid guide constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing in detail the ribs constituting an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between a driving fan and a flow guide in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 8 is an operational state diagram showing the process in which air in an indoor space is sucked into an intake port and discharged through a front outlet and a bottom outlet in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 9 is an operational state diagram explaining that energy is supplied to air flow by generating a vortex by a rib in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. When designating components in each drawing, it should be noted that, where possible, identical components will be given the same reference numerals, even if they appear in different drawings. Furthermore, when describing embodiments of the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known structure or function is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an air management device employing a preferred embodiment of the flow guide of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view. The flow guide (14) of the embodiment of the present invention can be used in various types of air management devices. The drawing shows the application of the embodiment of the present invention to a wall-mounted and detachable air management device. However, the flow guide (14) of the embodiment of the present invention can be used in various air management devices.

[0042] The exterior of the air management device illustrated may be formed by a housing (10). The housing (10) may form most of the front, top, rear, both sides, and bottom of the air management device. Of course, some parts of the exterior of the air management device may be made of other components, but the housing (10) may constitute most of the exterior of the air management device.

[0043] A chassis (12) may be installed inside the housing (10). The chassis (12) is a portion to which various components may be mounted and may form the frame of the air conditioner. In the present embodiment, referring to FIG. 4, the chassis (12) forms the rear exterior. The shape of the chassis (12) is not limited to that shown in the drawing and may have various shapes.

[0044] In this embodiment, a flow guide (14) is formed in a part of the chassis (12). The flow guide (14) is a part that guides the managed air to be discharged to the outside of the housing (10). The space formed by the flow guide (14) may be a part of a fan installation space (16). The fan installation space (16) is a part surrounded by the flow guide (14) and a heat exchanger (30) to be described below.

[0045] In the illustrated example, the inner surface of the fan installation space (16), which is the surface of the flow guide (14), is a curved surface (18) having a predetermined radius of curvature. The curved surface (18) faces the outer surface of the driving fan (32) to be described below and forms a flow path between the driving fan (32). The radius of curvature of the curved surface (18) may be formed to be gradually larger downward than in the upstream portion. That is, the radius of curvature at each point in the air flow direction of the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) may change.

[0046] The curvature radii of the above-mentioned curved surface (18) can be formed to be larger than the radius of the driving fan (32). Therefore, when the outer surface of the driving fan (32) is positioned adjacent to the nozzle (19), which is the starting area of ​​the above-mentioned curved surface (18), the gap between the outer surface of the driving fan (32) and the above-mentioned curved surface (18) becomes larger as it goes downstream of the above-mentioned curved surface (18). This is well illustrated in Fig. 4. That is, the flow space formed between the curved surface (18) of the above-mentioned flow guide (14) and the driving fan (32) becomes wider as it goes from the upstream portion to the downstream portion. Alternatively, the distance between the curved surface (18) of the above-mentioned flow guide (14) and the outer surface of the driving fan (32) becomes wider as it goes from the upstream portion to the downstream portion.

[0047] A plurality of ribs (20) are formed on the above-mentioned curved surface (18). As can be seen in FIG. 5, the ribs (20) can be formed in rows in the left and right directions of the above-mentioned curved surface (18). The plurality of ribs (20) can be formed at predetermined intervals. The plurality of ribs (20) can be formed at regular intervals. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the ribs (20) are formed over the entire width direction of the flow guide (14). The ribs (20) can be provided in an area corresponding to the width of the driving fan (32) to be described below.

[0048] Among the ribs (20), those located in the upstream portion start from the nozzle (19) and extend in the direction of air flow for a predetermined length. In the present embodiment, rows of ribs (20) are formed at a position past the nozzle (19), which is the upstream portion where the flow is guided by the flow guide (14), and at a position in the midstream portion. As confirmed through a flow experiment, the rows of ribs (20) provided almost similar performance when located only in the upstream portion of the flow guide (14) or only in the midstream portion. In the illustrated embodiment, rows of ribs (20) are formed in the upstream portion and the midstream portion of the flow guide (14), respectively.

[0049] Each of the above ribs (20) is formed to have a predetermined width and a length much longer than the width, and the upper surface of the front end (21) is a surface continuous with the curved surface (18). However, the height protruding from the curved surface (18) gradually increases as it moves from the front end (21) to the rear end (21'). Therefore, the rib (20) at the rear end (21') has a shape that protrudes from the curved surface (18) by a predetermined height. However, the height of the rib (20) decreases sharply at the rear end (21'). In the row of ribs (20), those arranged in the middle portion are arranged to overlap with the louver (36) described below in some areas in the direction of air flow.

[0050] All corners of the above rib (20) are formed to be rounded. Accordingly, although the height of the rib (20) is sharply reduced at the rear end (21'), the rear end (21') is also formed to be rounded overall.

[0051] The above rib (20) can play a role in forming a vortex when the flow from the driving fan (32) flows at a high speed along the curved surface (18). That is, it provides energy to the flow of air flowing along the curved surface (18), so that the discharge flow that was uneven over the entire width direction of the curved surface (18) is mixed with each other to form an overall stable flow. That is, when viewed in the axial direction of the driving fan (32), the rib (20) can play a role in removing the flow imbalance caused by the presence of a partitioned portion of the blade (33) and an eccentric vortex inside the driving fan (32).

[0052] There is a suction port (22) on one side of the housing (10). The suction port (22) may be on the upper surface of the housing (10). The suction port (22) serves as an inlet through which air in an indoor space outside the housing (10) flows into the interior of the housing (10). The suction port (22) may be formed to extend left and right on the upper surface of the housing (10) when the housing (10) is viewed from the front.

[0053] The front lower portion of the housing (10) may have a front outlet (24). The front outlet (24) is a portion through which managed air is discharged. The front outlet (24) may also be formed to extend longwise from side to side on the front of the housing (10) when the housing (10) is viewed from the front.

[0054] The bottom surface of the housing (10) may have a bottom discharge port (26). The bottom discharge port (26) may be located adjacent to the front discharge port (24). That is, the bottom discharge port (26) may be located at the front of the bottom surface of the housing (10). Air may be discharged toward the front and bottom of the housing (10) through the front discharge port (24) and the bottom discharge port (26).

[0055] A vane (28) may be provided to control the opening and closing of the above-mentioned bottom discharge port (26) and the direction of flow of air discharged from the above-mentioned bottom discharge port (26). The specific configuration of the vane (28) is omitted for explanation.

[0056] A heat exchanger (30) may be provided inside the housing (10). The heat exchanger (30) is a portion where the working fluid of the heat exchange cycle and the air sucked in from the indoor space through the intake port (22) exchange heat. The working fluid circulating in the heat exchange cycle flows inside the heat exchanger (30), and the working fluid and the air sucked in from the indoor space exchange heat with each other. The heat exchanger (30) may be arranged to surround approximately half of the outer surface of the driving fan (32). In the illustrated embodiment, the heat exchanger (30) is arranged to surround an angular area that is approximately half of the cross-section of the driving fan (32).

[0057] The driving fan (32) sucks in air from the indoor space through the intake port (22) and creates a flow of air so that it is discharged through the front outlet port (24) or the bottom outlet port (26). The driving fan (32) may use a cross-flow fan. The driving fan (32) is divided into sections and arranged in a cylindrical shape with a plurality of blades (33). The driving fan (32) has an overall cylindrical shape and sucks in air through one outer surface. The air sucked into the driving fan (32) passes through the interior and is discharged through an area facing the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) and guided along the curved surface (18).

[0058] The above driving fan (32) is installed so that one outer surface thereof is adjacent to the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) with a predetermined gap therebetween. Since the radius of the driving fan (32) is smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved surface (18), the gap between the outer surface of the driving fan (32) and the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) increases from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the flow guide (14).

[0059] There is a stabilizer (34) facing a portion of the downstream portion of the curved surface (18) of the above flow guide (14). The stabilizer (34) forms one side of the flow path through which air flows, and is located adjacent to the front outlet (24) and the bottom outlet (26).

[0060] There may be a louver (36) on the flow path between the stabilizer (34) and the area adjacent to the downstream portion of the flow guide (14). The louver (36) can control the direction of air flow in the left and right directions when looking at the front outlet (24) or the bottom outlet (26) from the front.

[0061] Hereinafter, the operation of a flow guide according to the present invention having the configuration described above and an air management device equipped therewith will be described.

[0062] The air management device of the embodiment of the present invention is a split-type air conditioner, and the drawing shows an indoor unit. The indoor unit is also of a type that can be hung on a wall. In this type of air management device, heat exchange occurs as the working fluid from the outdoor unit passes through the heat exchanger (30), and the air for air conditioning, which is drawn in through the intake port (22) by the driving fan (32), passes through the heat exchanger (30).

[0063] Air that has been heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger (30) and has, for example, a relatively low temperature enters the driving fan (32) and is discharged toward the curved surface (18) of the driving fan (32) facing the flow guide (14). The air that has come out of the driving fan (32) moves along the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) and forms a vortex by the rib (20), thereby replenishing flow energy.

[0064] At this time, since there are multiple ribs (20) spaced at regular intervals in the width direction of the driving fan (32), the vortex flow created in each of these ribs (20) combines with adjacent flows and is mixed with the surrounding flows as a whole to form a stable discharge flow.

[0065] In Fig. 8, air from an indoor space is sucked in through the intake port (22), the air passes through the heat exchanger (30) and the driving fan (32), and the air is guided along the curved surface (18) of the flow guide (14) and discharged into the indoor space through the front discharge port (24) or the bottom discharge port (26), as indicated by arrows.

[0066] And, Fig. 9 shows that a vortex is generated in each rib (20). In this way, the air flow acquires energy due to the vortex generated in each rib (20), and the energy of this vortex is transferred to the surrounding flow, and the discharge flow that was unevenly generated from the driving fan (32) is mixed with each other to form a stable discharge flow.

[0067] As explained above, in the illustrated embodiment, the rows of ribs (20) are formed in the upstream and midstream portions of the flow guide (14), respectively. The rows of ribs (20) may be formed only in the upstream portion or only in the midstream portion.

[0068] In fact, when the effect was tested for the same air volume when the rib (20) was formed only in the upstream part of the flow guide (14) and when it was formed only in the middle part, it was confirmed that the power consumption was reduced by about 2.0% compared to the conventional structure.

[0069] And, as in the illustrated example, when the ribs (20) were placed simultaneously in the upstream and midstream portions of the flow guide (14), the test results showed that power consumption was reduced by about 2.4 to 2.5% compared to the same wind volume, and noise was also improved by about 0.4 dB.

[0070] However, if the rib (20) row is not formed in the upper and middle parts but in the lower part, for example, at a position passing through the louver (36), the air flow along the curved surface (18) becomes uneven and is therefore ineffective.

[0071] Meanwhile, the air that passes through the flow guide (14) has its flow direction controlled by the louver (36) and can be discharged through the front discharge port (24) or through the front discharge port (24) and the bottom discharge port (26).

[0072] Although all components constituting embodiments of the present invention have been described as being combined or operating in combination, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such embodiments. That is, within the scope of the present invention, all components may be selectively combined and operated in one or more combinations.

Claims

1. In a flow guide that is installed facing the driving fan at a predetermined distance on the air flow path and guides the air flow, A flow guide in which a surface guiding the flow of air in the above flow guide is a curved surface facing the driving fan, and a rib formed to extend in the direction of the air flow is positioned on the curved surface.

2. In the first paragraph, the ribs are a flow guide arranged in rows in the width direction of the curved surface at a predetermined interval.

3. In the first paragraph, the flow guide is arranged on the upstream portion of the curved surface.

4. In the first paragraph, the flow guide is arranged in the middle part of the curved surface.

5. In the first paragraph, the curved surface is formed to have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the driving fan, and the distance between the outer surface of the driving fan and the curved surface gradually increases from the upstream portion to the downstream portion of the flow.

6. In the first paragraph, the rib has a predetermined width and a length longer than the width and extends in the direction of air flow, the upper surface of the leading end of the rib becomes a plane continuous with the surface of the curved surface, and the degree to which the rib protrudes from the curved surface increases as it goes from the leading end to the rear end of the rib.

7. In the 6th paragraph, the rib is a fluid guide formed with rounded edges.

8. A housing having an intake port through which air from an indoor space is sucked in and an exhaust port through which air is discharged into the indoor space. A driving fan that creates airflow through the above intake and exhaust ports, A heat exchanger in which heat is exchanged between air and working fluid as airflow passes through the above driving fan. The air discharged from the above driving fan is guided and includes a flow guide having a predetermined curve facing the outer surface of the above driving fan. An air management device in which ribs formed by extending in the direction of air flow are arranged in rows at a predetermined interval in the direction of the rotation axis of the driving fan on the curved surface of the above-mentioned flow guide.

9. An air management device in accordance with paragraph 8, wherein the rib is arranged on the upstream portion of the curved surface.

10. An air management device in accordance with paragraph 8, wherein the rib is arranged in the middle portion of the curved surface.

11. An air management device in accordance with paragraph 8, wherein the ribs are respectively arranged in the upstream and midstream portions of the curved surface.

12. An air management device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the curved surface of the flow guide is formed to have a radius of curvature greater than the radius of the driving fan.

13. An air management device in which, in paragraph 12, the rib has a predetermined width and a length longer than the width and extends in the direction of air flow, the upper surface of the leading end of the rib becomes a plane continuous with the surface of the curved surface, and the extent to which the rib protrudes from the curved surface increases as it goes from the leading end to the rear end of the rib.

14. An air management device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the ribs are formed with rounded corners.

15. An air management device in accordance with claim 8, wherein one outer surface of the driving fan is installed to have a predetermined gap between it and the curved surface of the flow guide, and the gap is formed to gradually increase as it goes downstream of the air flow guided by the flow guide.

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