Air-conditioning-apparatus indoor unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-conditioning-apparatus indoor units face issues with non-uniform airflow distribution, leading to dew formation and smudging due to low airflow speed at the long-side ends of air outlets, which increases draft resistance and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates deflection guides with a specific shape extending from the ends of the air outlets toward the central part, gradually converging toward the inner side wall, reducing the air passage width and redirecting airflow to increase speed uniformly across the outlet area, preventing humid air intrusion and reducing the length of the deflection guide to minimize draft resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deflection guide is provided on the inner surface of the housing to make airflow speed distribution uniform, then dew formation is prevented, but the length of the deflection guide in the long-side direction becomes large, increasing draft resistance and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing deflection guides only at specific locations (long-side ends and short-side ends) rather than uniformly across the entire air outlet. The deflection guides are strategically positioned where airflow speed is lowest, creating localized airflow control zones that prevent dew formation without requiring full-coverage deflection structures, thereby reducing overall draft resistance and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by providing deflection guides only at critical locations (ends of the air outlet) rather than across the entire surface. This partial coverage is sufficient to control the lowest-speed airflow regions where dew formation occurs, avoiding the excessive draft resistance that would result from full-coverage deflection guides.
2Reliability
If the deflection guide length is increased to control airflow at the long-side end, then dew formation is prevented, but draft resistance and load torque increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating deflection guide provisions at specific high-risk locations (long-side ends and short-side ends) rather than uniformly across the air outlet. This localized approach provides sufficient airflow control at critical zones while minimizing the total deflection guide area, thereby reducing draft resistance and load torque on the fan.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the air outlet into distinct zones (long-side ends and short-side ends) and provides deflection guides specifically at these segmented locations. This segmentation allows targeted airflow control where needed most, avoiding the draft resistance penalty of continuous full-coverage deflection guides while maintaining effective dew prevention.
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 solution ensures uniform airflow distribution, preventing dew formation and smudging while reducing power consumption by minimizing draft resistance and maintaining airflow straightness, resulting in an energy-saving and high-quality air-conditioning-apparatus indoor unit.
Implementation Method 1
the deflection guide includes a deflection-guide upper surface that gradually extends closer to the body-air-outlet inner side wall in a direction from the end of the body-air-outlet outer side wall toward the central part of the body air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
Body air outlets 10d of an air-conditioning-apparatus indoor unit 100 each has a substantially trapezoidal shape in plan view and are each defined by a body-air-outlet outer side wall 10d2, a body-air-outlet inner side wall 10d4, and a pair of body-air-outlet end walls 10d1. The body-air-outlet outer side wall 10d2 is provided with a deflection guide 2 at each of long-side ends thereof. The body-air-outlet end walls 10d1 are each provided with a sloping guide 3. The deflection guide 2 has a deflection-guide upper surface 2a that gradually projects toward the body-air-outlet inner side wall 10d4 in a direction toward a body open face 10e (toward a downstream side) and in a direction toward the central part of the body air outlet 10d. The sloping guide 3 has a sloping-guide upper surface 3a that gradually projects toward the central part of the body air outlet 10d as the sloping guide 3 extends closer to the body open face 10e (toward the downstream side).