Air Conditioner Blade Nested Structure to Reduce Flow Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioner blades face issues with wind direction controllability due to flow separation, and maintaining a superior design is challenging, especially when installed in living or service spaces.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner incorporates a main body with a rotatable first member featuring a recess on one casing and a protrusion on the opposing casing, forming a hollow structure to enhance wind direction control and design aesthetics by positioning recesses on the inner side of the blade during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional blade structure is used, then the structure is simple, but flow separation occurs during operation reducing wind direction controllability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind direction controllabilityVSAvoidblade structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The blade adopts a nested structure where the first casing and second casing are attached to each other, forming a hollow internal space. This nested configuration allows the blade to maintain structural integrity while reducing weight and preventing flow separation, thereby improving wind direction controllability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The blade is divided into multiple components including a first casing, a second casing, protrusions, and recesses. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while assembling into a cohesive structure that prevents flow separation and enhances controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the blade structure is made hollow to reduce weight and prevent flow separation, then wind direction controllability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind direction controllabilityVSAvoidblade manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow structure is achieved by nesting the first casing and second casing together, which simplifies manufacturing compared to creating a fully hollow monolithic structure. The nested casings can be manufactured separately and then assembled, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the weight and flow separation benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If recesses are provided on the blade surface to hold dew condensation water, then dew condensation management improves, but the design aesthetics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedew condensation water accumulationVSAvoidblade design aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The recesses are formed within the nested casing structure, specifically on the inner surfaces of the first and second casings. This placement ensures that the dew condensation management features are hidden from external view, maintaining design aesthetics while effectively managing dew condensation water.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses are strategically positioned on specific local areas of the blade structure where they serve the dew condensation function without being visible from the exterior. This localized placement allows the blade to maintain superior design aesthetics while incorporating functional dew condensation management features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Strength

If protrusions and recesses are added to the blade structure, then structural strength and dew condensation management improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade structural strengthVSAvoidblade component complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions and recesses are integrated into the existing nested casing structure rather than being added as separate components. The first casing includes recesses on its inner surface, while the second casing includes protrusions that engage with these recesses, merging structural reinforcement and dew condensation management into a unified design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 achieves superior design and wind direction controllability while reducing the likelihood of flow separation, weight, and noise, while also preventing dew condensation and water dripping.

Implementation Method 1

A blade provided in an air conditioner to control wind direction has a problem in that, when flow separates from the blade during operation, wind direction controllability declines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 2

both superior design and wind direction controllability can be achieved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWeight reduction through hollow structure:

Implementation Method 3

a heat exchanger provided in the main body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

a fan provided in the main body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow: Fan

Data Source

PatentEP3348926B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2020.08.12 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3348926B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3348926B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3348926B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air conditioner includes : a main body having an air outlet; a fan provided in the main body; a heat exchanger provided in the main body; and a first member rotatably supported on the main body and opening and closing the air outlet, wherein the first member includes a first casing having a first surface facing an inner side of the main body while operation is stopped and a second casing attached to the first casing; on the first casing, a recess is formed on the first surface and a protrusion protruding toward the second casing is formed, and the recess is positioned on an opposite side to the protrusion.