Air conditioner and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air purifiers and air conditioners with electric dust collectors face issues with harmful materials like bacteria, viruses, and allergens multiplying on electrodes and re-spread indoors, and traditional sterilization methods produce harmful by-products or require excessive energy.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a dust collection sheet featuring first and second electrodes, controlled by a power supplier and controller, performs DC voltage for dust collection and AC voltage for sterilization operations at different temperatures based on contamination levels and operation hours, without producing harmful by-products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sterilization methods are used on the electrodes, then harmful materials are eliminated, but harmful by-products are produced or excessive energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies AC voltage with varying frequencies and amplitudes to the electrodes for sterilization. By changing the electrical parameters (frequency, amplitude) of the applied voltage, the system achieves effective sterilization without producing harmful by-products, resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and harmful by-product generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional thermal or chemical sterilization methods with an electrical field-based sterilization method. By using AC voltage to generate electrical forces that disrupt and eliminate harmful materials on the electrodes, the system achieves sterilization without the harmful by-products associated with traditional methods
2Reliability
If traditional sterilization methods are used on the electrodes, then harmful materials are eliminated, but excessive energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic AC voltage application to the electrodes for sterilization. By using alternating current with specific frequencies and duty cycles, the system achieves effective sterilization through repeated electrical pulses that disrupt harmful materials, while the periodic nature of the action reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous high-power sterilization methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the AC voltage parameters (frequency, amplitude, duty cycle) based on the sterilization needs and operational conditions. This dynamic control allows the system to achieve effective sterilization with optimized energy input, avoiding excessive energy consumption while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
3Productivity
If DC voltage is continuously applied for dust collection, then particles are effectively collected, but harmful materials multiply on the electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent alternates between DC voltage application for dust collection and AC voltage application for sterilization. By periodically switching between these two voltage modes, the system maintains effective dust collection while regularly eliminating harmful materials that would otherwise multiply on the electrodes during continuous DC operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a continuous operational cycle that combines dust collection and sterilization functions. By continuously alternating between DC and AC voltage modes, the system ensures both dust collection efficiency and electrode cleanliness are maintained over time, preventing harmful material accumulation while preserving productive dust collection
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
Effectively sterilizes the electrodes of the dust collection sheet, maintaining cleanliness and reducing energy consumption by selectively applying AC voltage for sterilization, thereby preventing the proliferation of harmful substances.
Implementation Method 1
a first sterilizing operation to heat the first electrode and the second electrode at a preset first temperature for a first period of time and a second sterilizing operation to heat the first electrode and the second electrode at a second temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a dust collection sheet including a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode and facing the first electrode, and to collect particles in air, a power supplier electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and a controller configured to control the power supplier to apply a direct current (DC) voltage to the first electrode to perform a dust collecting operation, determine to perform at least one of a first sterilizing operation at a preset first temperature for a first period of time and a second sterilizing operation at a second temperature higher than the first temperature for a second period of time shorter than the first period of time, and control the power supplier to apply an alternate current (AC) voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode for the first sterilizing operation or the second sterilizing operation.