Air Conditioner Casing Geometry for Longer Air Throw
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning units have limitations in effectively distributing temperature-controlled air over a wide area indoors, as the blown air often fails to reach far enough due to restricted airflow and structural constraints.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning unit design features a casing with a reduced height-to-diameter ratio, allowing for closer arrangement of units, which reduces air flow resistance and enhances the blow distance of air by optimizing the placement and size of air passages, fans, and heat exchangers, enabling the air to travel farther with increased velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the air conditioning unit uses a conventional rectangular shape with standard height-to-diameter ratio, then the unit structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the air flow resistance is high and the blow distance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the height-to-diameter ratio of the casing to 0.6 or less, and positioning the air passage center at 0.35 or less of the casing height from the bottom. These specific parameter optimizations reduce air flow resistance and extend the blow distance of temperature-controlled air while maintaining a simple rectangular casing structure that is easy to manufacture.
2Area of stationary object
If the air conditioning units are arranged closely together, then the space utilization is improved, but the air flow between units may be restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables close arrangement of multiple air conditioning units by optimizing the casing dimensions (height-to-diameter ratio of 0.6 or less) and air passage positioning (center at 0.35 or less of casing height from bottom). This configuration allows units to be placed closer together while maintaining adequate air velocity (1 m/s or higher at 7.3 meters distance) through reduced air flow resistance caused by the optimized geometry.
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 significantly extends the reach of temperature-controlled air, allowing it to cover larger areas effectively, with the air conditioning units able to distribute air with a velocity of 1 m/s or higher up to 7.3 meters when units are closely arranged vertically.
Implementation Method 1
a fan 55 and a heat exchanger 50, wherein the heat exchanger 50 is disposed on the back side inside the casing 60
Implementation Method 2
a fan 55 and a heat exchanger 50, wherein the heat exchanger 50 is disposed on the back side inside the casing 60
Data Source
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AI summary
An air conditioning unit (12A) that blows out temperature-controlled air to a front side indoors includes a use-side fan (55), a casing (60), and a second air passage forming member (72). An air passage (FS1) of the second air passage forming member (72) has a circular cross-sectional shape. The casing (60) has a rectangular shape in front view. The rectangular shape is surrounded by a first side (S61) and a second side (S62) that are parallel to each other, and a third side (S63) and a fourth side (S64) that are parallel to each other. In the air conditioning unit (12A), a smaller one of a height dimension (H) corresponding to a distance between the first side (S61) and the second side (S62) and a width dimension (W) corresponding to a distance between the third side (S63) and the fourth side (S64), or the height dimension (H) is equal to or smaller than 2.5 times a diameter (D) of a cross section of the air passage (FS1).