Ceiling-Embedded AC Electrical Box Layout for Balanced Heat Exchanger Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ceiling-embedded air conditioner designs suffer from imbalanced air flow through the heat exchanger due to the placement and shape of the electrical equipment box, leading to reduced ventilation efficiency and heat exchange performance.
Innovation Solution
The electrical equipment box is repositioned and reshaped to extend from the corner of the casing body in an L-shape along the heat exchanger's bent portions, with specific length constraints and a tapered surface to minimize overlap and improve air flow balance, while ensuring the required size and functionality of the equipment box.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the electrical equipment box is disposed along one side surface of the casing body, then the electrical equipment can be accommodated, but the ventilation resistance becomes significantly larger near the side of the base portion with the electrical equipment box, deteriorating the balance of air passing through the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical equipment box is designed with an L-shaped configuration that is asymmetrically disposed along the heat exchanger, extending from a corner toward two adjacent sides. This asymmetric placement avoids the symmetric side-along arrangement that caused ventilation resistance imbalance, allowing the box to accommodate electrical equipment while minimizing interference with air flow paths through the heat exchanger.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical equipment box transitions from a one-dimensional side-along placement to a two-dimensional L-shaped configuration that utilizes corner space. By extending along two adjacent sides rather than one side, the box efficiently uses available space while maintaining better air flow balance through the heat exchanger.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrical equipment box is extended in length to accommodate more equipment, then the functionality is improved, but the overlap with the heat exchanger increases, worsening the ventilation resistance and air flow balance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the electrical equipment box in a single long direction that increases overlap with the heat exchanger, the box is configured in an L-shape that utilizes two-dimensional corner space. This allows increased accommodation capacity through spatial optimization rather than linear extension, maintaining better ventilation characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the balance of air passing through the heat exchanger, suppressing the reduction in heat exchange efficiency and minimizing ventilation resistance, thereby optimizing the air conditioner's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger that is disposed inside the casing body on an outer peripheral side of the turbo fan
Implementation Method 2
a turbo fan that is disposed inside the casing body
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling-embedded air conditioner includes: a ceiling-embedded casing body; a turbo fan disposed inside the casing body; a heat exchanger disposed inside the casing body on an outer peripheral side of the turbo fan; and an electrical equipment box disposed along a part of the heat exchanger at the upstream side of a ventilation direction. The casing body has a square shape with first to fourth side plates. The heat exchanger has first to fourth heat exchange portions bent along the first to fourth side plates respectively. An end portion of the first heat exchange portion and an end portion of the fourth heat exchange portion are disposed at a corner for tube connection out of the four corners of the casing body. The electrical equipment box is disposed to extend from the corner for tube connection toward the first heat exchange portion and the fourth heat exchange portion.