Humidifying Air Conditioner Water Recirculation Against Scale Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners with humidification functions face issues of scale formation and microbial growth in the water collecting tank, leading to odor generation and frequent cleaning requirements due to stagnant water.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design that includes a water reservoir, a humidifying fabric, a water collecting tank, and a pump to circulate water, with a sterilization method using electrolysis to prevent microbial growth and minimize water accumulation, along with a control system to manage the humidification and sterilization processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is continuously supplied to the water collecting tank for humidification, then the humidification function is maintained, but scale formation and microbial growth occur due to stagnant water accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump continuously circulates water from the water collecting tank back to the water reservoir, preventing stagnant water accumulation. This continuous circulation eliminates the harmful effects of scale formation and microbial growth while maintaining the humidification function, resolving the technical contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding water from the water collecting tank, the system recycles it by pumping it back to the water reservoir. This recovery process prevents water waste and eliminates stagnant water that would otherwise lead to scale formation and microbial growth, resolving the contradiction between maintaining humidification and preventing harmful factors.
2Productivity
If water is accumulated in the water collecting tank for continuous humidification operation, then the humidification efficiency is improved, but odor is generated due to microbial reproduction in stagnant water
Solution Approach 1:
The pump maintains continuous water circulation from the water collecting tank to the water reservoir, preventing water stagnation. This continuous action eliminates microbial reproduction and odor generation while preserving humidification efficiency, resolving the technical contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own water circulation mechanism to prevent odor generation. The pump automatically circulates water without external intervention, eliminating stagnant water conditions that lead to microbial reproduction and odor, thus resolving the contradiction between humidification efficiency and odor prevention.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a large volume of water is stored in the water collecting tank for extended humidification operation, then the operation duration is extended, but cleaning frequency increases due to scale formation on the inner wall
Solution Approach 1:
The pump continuously circulates water through the system, preventing scale formation on the inner walls of the water collecting tank. This continuous circulation allows extended operation duration without increasing cleaning frequency, as the moving water prevents mineral deposition, resolving the technical contradiction between operation duration and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of water from stagnant to continuously moving. This parameter change in water flow dynamics prevents scale formation on tank walls, allowing extended operation without frequent cleaning, thus resolving the contradiction between operation duration and cleaning frequency.
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
The solution effectively sterilizes and circulates water, preventing scale formation and microbial growth, thus maintaining a clean and efficient humidification system by minimizing residual water in the collecting tank.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to pump the water in the water collecting tank to the water reservoir through a suction hole
Implementation Method 2
sterilizing water in the water reservoir
Implementation Method 3
circulate air to pass through the humidifying fabric member containing moisture
Implementation Method 4
a fan configured to circulate air from outside of the main body, and to cause the air to pass through the humidifying fabric member
Implementation Method 5
a bottom of the water collecting tank is formed to be downwardly inclined toward one portion of the bottom and the suction hole of the pump is disposed adjacent to the one portion
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner includes a main body, a fan configured to cause air to flow through the main body, and a water reservoir detachably disposed on an upper portion of the main body. A humidifying fabric member is disposed inside the main body and configured to receive water from the water reservoir. A water collecting tank is configured to collect water that flows down from the humidifying fabric member. In addition, a pump is configured to pump the water in the water collecting tank to the water reservoir through a suction hole. A bottom of the water collecting tank is formed to be downwardly inclined toward one portion of the bottom and the suction hole of the pump is disposed adjacent to the one portion.