Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wall-mounted air conditioners, temperature sensors close to the evaporator suffer from thermal radiation and mechanical damage, leading to inaccurate temperature readings and potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The temperature sensor is positioned on the back of the front panel, adjacent to the air inlet, and housed within a vented cavity of the electric element cover, which includes a grille part to improve ambient temperature sensing accuracy and protect the sensor from mechanical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is disposed on the evaporator surface close to the air inlet, then the sensor can detect temperature near the cooling source, but the sensor suffers thermal radiation from the evaporator causing inaccurate ambient temperature readings
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor is extracted from its conventional position on the evaporator surface and relocated to the front panel. This separation removes the sensor from the harmful thermal radiation environment of the evaporator while maintaining its ability to detect ambient temperature near the air inlet, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and thermal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The front panel serves as an intermediary structure that houses the temperature sensor in a protected cavity. This intermediary position allows the sensor to be shielded from direct thermal radiation of the evaporator while still being positioned to detect ambient temperature, effectively mediating between the need for accurate measurement and avoidance of thermal interference.
2Ease of manufacture
If the temperature sensor is disposed close to the evaporator, then the sensor is positioned for easy installation, but the signal wire contacts and rubs against evaporator fins causing wire cutoff and sensor disablement
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensor and its signal wire are extracted from the high-risk zone near the evaporator fins. By relocating the sensor to the front panel cavity, the signal wire is separated from the mechanical interference zone of the evaporator fins, eliminating the risk of wire rubbing and cutoff while maintaining installation simplicity through the structured cavity design.
3Reliability
If the temperature sensor is disposed on the cover plate of the electric motor, then the sensor is protected from mechanical damage, but the air inlet channel becomes narrow
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the sensor on the two-dimensional cover plate surface of the electric motor, the sensor is relocated to a three-dimensional cavity space within the front panel. This dimensional change provides adequate protection space for the sensor while completely avoiding obstruction of the air inlet channel, as the sensor is housed in a dedicated cavity rather than occupying the motor cover surface.
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 enhances the accuracy of temperature measurements by reducing the influence of the evaporator's thermal radiation and mechanical interference, ensuring reliable and safe operation of the air conditioner.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature sensor is disposed close to an air inlet... the temperature sensor tends to suffer a thermal radiation of the evaporator
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioner (10) is provided, including a casing (12), an evaporator (14), a front panel (16) and a temperature sensor (18). The casing (12) has an air inlet (120) and an air outlet (122). The evaporator (14) is arranged in the casing (12). The front panel (16) is arranged in front of the casing (12). The temperature sensor (18) is disposed to a back of the front panel (16) and is used for sensing an ambient temperature.