Air conditioner and controlling method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners lack the ability to selectively perform ventilation modes with and without heat exchange between indoor and outdoor air, and they struggle to implement heating and humidification operations efficiently, leading to difficulties in maintaining desired indoor temperatures and humidity levels.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with a configuration that includes separate air paths for heat exchange and bypass paths, allowing users to choose between ventilation modes with and without heat exchange, and incorporating an evaporative cooler and dehumidification rotor to manage humidity and temperature, along with a controller to manage airflow through various paths for dehumidification, humidification, heating, and air purification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dehumidification cooling system is used, then dehumidification and cooling operations can be performed, but heating and humidification operations cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner is designed to perform multiple operations including cooling, heating, dehumidification, and humidification using a unified system configuration. The system uses the condenser and evaporator in different operational modes to achieve both cooling and heating, while the evaporative cooler enables both dehumidification and humidification functions.
2Ease of operation
If water is directly injected to a condenser and then evaporated for humidification, then humidification can be performed, but the indoor space temperature increases due to heat of the condenser
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the humidification process from the cooling process by introducing a separate evaporative cooler that operates independently. This allows humidification to be performed without necessarily performing cooling, enabling precise control over indoor humidity levels without unwanted temperature changes.
3Ease of operation
If a regenerative and evaporative cooler is used for humidification, then humidification can be performed, but heat exchange between indoor air and outdoor air occurs during ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between different operational modes including cooling mode, dehumidification mode, humidification mode, and ventilation mode. The controller adjusts the operation of the evaporative cooler and airflow paths based on the selected mode, enabling the system to perform humidification without heat exchange during ventilation when needed.
4Use of energy by moving object
If heat exchange between indoor air and outdoor air is performed during ventilation, then heat efficiency can be improved, but a ventilation mode without heat exchange cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system dynamically switches between two modes: a first ventilation mode where outdoor air passes through the evaporative cooler for heat exchange with indoor air, and a second ventilation mode where outdoor air bypasses the evaporative cooler without heat exchange. This dynamic switching capability allows the system to adapt to different user needs and environmental conditions.
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
Enhances user convenience by allowing selective ventilation modes, improves heat efficiency, and effectively manages indoor humidity and temperature, enabling all desired operations like dehumidification, cooling, heating, and air purification in a single unit.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporative cooler including a dry channel connected to the indoor introduction air path, a humid channel having one end and the other end each connected to the outdoor discharge air path and the indoor introduction air path, and in which heat exchange is performed with air which passes through the dry channel
Implementation Method 2
in which heat exchange is performed with air which passes through the dry channel
Implementation Method 3
a dehumidification rotor including a first area and a second area through which the indoor air or the outdoor air passes so that the indoor air or the outdoor air adsorbs or drains moisture while passing through the first area and the second area
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes an indoor introduction air path configured to introduce air into an indoor space and an outdoor discharge air path configured to discharge air to an outdoor space, wherein the outdoor discharge air path includes an air path in which heat exchange is performed with the air introduced into the indoor space, and a by-pass path in which heat exchange is not performed with the air introduced into the indoor space, and the air conditioner further includes a controller configured to control the air discharged to the outdoor space so that the air discharged to the outdoor space flows to one of the air paths, in which the heat exchange is performed, and the by-pass path.