Air Conditioner Plenum Design for Make-Up Air Without Water Ingress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning appliances face challenges in providing sufficient make-up air to indoor spaces while preventing water ingress, which can lead to insufficient airflow and potential damage from moisture, failing to meet heat management standards and causing issues with plastic components.
Innovation Solution
A single-package air conditioner unit design incorporating a plenum with a make-up air inlet and an angled inlet plate, along with a secondary air duct, allows for efficient make-up air introduction from outside to the indoor portion without passing through the housing, isolating it from outdoor airflow and preventing water entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If make-up air is ducted through the air conditioner housing, then make-up air supply to indoor space is improved, but water may enter the housing causing damage to components
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner system is divided into separate air pathways: one for conditioned air circulation through the housing, and another dedicated pathway for make-up air that bypasses the housing entirely. This segmentation prevents water ingress into the housing while ensuring adequate make-up air supply to the indoor space.
Solution Approach 2:
A plenum is introduced as an intermediary component that receives make-up air from the outdoor environment and delivers it to the indoor space without requiring the air to pass through the air conditioner housing. This mediator structure enables make-up air supply while protecting the housing from water damage.
2Reliability
If cracks or openings are eliminated to meet fire codes, then safety is improved, but make-up air flow becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum acts as an intermediary structure that provides a controlled, code-compliant opening for make-up air. Instead of relying on unauthorized cracks or openings, the plenum offers a legitimate pathway that meets fire code requirements while ensuring sufficient air flow to the indoor space.
Solution Approach 2:
The plenum serves multiple functions: it provides make-up air supply, maintains fire code compliance through proper construction, and can be integrated with the existing air conditioner installation. This multi-functional design simultaneously addresses safety requirements and air flow needs.
3Quantity of substance
If make-up air inlet is provided in the housing, then make-up air supply is improved, but heat management standards become difficult to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling system is segmented into separate pathways: conditioned air for temperature control remains within the housing, while make-up air is supplied through an external plenum pathway. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each pathway for its specific function, maintaining heat management standards while providing adequate make-up air.
Data Source
AI summary
A single-package air conditioner unit may include a housing, an outdoor heat exchanger assembly, an indoor heat exchanger assembly, a compressor, and a plenum. The housing may define an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. The plenum may be attached to the housing and receivable within a wall channel defined by a structure wall. The plenum may define a primary air channel and a make-up air (MUA) inlet in fluid parallel with the primary air channel. The primary air channel may be disposed in fluid communication with the outdoor portion to permit air therebetween. The MUA inlet may be in fluid communication with the indoor portion to permit air thereto.