Air Conditioner Wind Guide Plate Control for Heating Comfort

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air-conditioning apparatuses reduce air speed during heating operations, leading to discomfort as the air feels cold, even when the surface temperature of individuals increases, resulting in a decreased comfort level.

Innovation Solution

An air-conditioning apparatus with a wind guide plate that can change its direction, controlled by a sensor system and compressor operation, to optimize airflow and heat distribution, ensuring warm air is directed upwards during heating operations to maintain comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the speed of air blown from the indoor unit is reduced during heating operation, then the amount of air reaching the person is reduced, but the person still feels cold because the air temperature is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort levelVSAvoidair temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The wind guide plate is made rotatable to dynamically change the air blowing direction between downward (first direction) and upward (second direction). This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt air distribution to different operational conditions, resolving the contradiction by directing warm air upward to prevent cold air accumulation near the person while maintaining comfortable air speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the wind guide plate is rotated to change air blowing direction, then warm air distribution is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomfort levelVSAvoidwind guide plate mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind guide plate is designed as a rotatable component that can switch between two primary positions (downward and upward blowing). This dynamic mechanism, while adding some complexity, enables significant improvement in comfort by allowing warm air to be directed upward during heating operations, preventing cold air accumulation near the person.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces vertical air movement by rotating the wind guide plate to blow air upward (second direction) instead of only downward (first direction). This adds a vertical dimension to air distribution, allowing warm air to rise and circulate more effectively throughout the space, improving thermal comfort without requiring complex multi-directional mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Use of energy by moving object

If air speed is reduced to improve comfort, then energy consumption decreases, but the heated air does not circulate effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidair circulation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts air blowing direction using the rotatable wind guide plate. During heating operations, warm air is directed upward to enhance natural convection currents, improving circulation efficiency without requiring high air speeds. This dynamic directional control allows effective heat distribution at lower energy consumption levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the parameter of air blowing direction (from downward to upward) to improve heat circulation. By directing warm air upward, the system utilizes natural convection to enhance air circulation efficiency, achieving effective heat distribution without increasing air speed or energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively reduces the discomfort felt during heating operations by maintaining a comfortable indoor environment by ensuring warm air is circulated efficiently, even when the compressor is in a stopped state, thereby reducing energy consumption and comfort fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

a wind guide plate included in the indoor unit, and allowed to be rotated to be in a first state in which the wind guide plate causes air to be blown from the air outlet in a first direction, and to be in a second state in which the wind guide plate causes air to be blown from the air outlet in a direction upwardly inclined to the first direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a pressure-reducing device, and a second heat exchanger included in the indoor unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a refrigerant circuit including a compressor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 4

a fan included in the indoor unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced air movement: Fan

Implementation Method 5

a first sensor configured to detect a temperature of air in target space for air-conditioning; a second sensor configured to detect a temperature of the second heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTemperature detection:

Data Source

PatentEP4123236B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4123236B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4123236B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B(b)
  • EP4123236B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In an air-conditioning apparatus, in the case where a compressor is in operation, a fan is in operation, a wind guide plate is in a first state and a second heat exchanger operates as a condenser, when a detected temperature of target space for air-conditioning is higher than a set temperature for the target space and a detected temperature of a second heat exchanger is lower than or equal to a first reference temperature, a controller performs a first control to keep the compressor and the fan in operation and switch the state of the wind guide plate from the first state to a second state.