Air-conditioning device and indoor unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor air-conditioning units allow cold air to enter from near walls during heating operations, creating a temperature difference between central and peripheral areas of a room.

Innovation Solution

An indoor air-conditioning unit with adjustable airflow direction flaps, load detectors, and controllers that direct warm air horizontally or upward when the load is high, blocking cold air entry and maintaining uniform temperature by increasing airflow speed and reducing outlet opening areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If airflow direction is changed to horizontal or upward when load is high, then cold air entry from walls is blocked, but airflow speed and outlet opening area must be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature uniformity in indoor spaceVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The airflow direction adjusting flaps serve multiple functions: they control airflow direction (horizontal or upward), regulate airflow speed through their positioning, and can adjust outlet opening areas. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms while achieving temperature uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The load detector provides continuous feedback to the controller about the indoor space heating demand. The controller processes this information and automatically adjusts the airflow direction adjusting flaps to maintain optimal temperature distribution, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Effectively prevents cold air from entering from walls, reducing temperature differences between central and peripheral areas, ensuring a more uniform heating distribution.

Implementation Method 1

an airflow direction adjusting flap (51) which is provided at each of the outlet openings (24a to 24d) and changes a direction of air coming from the outlet openings (24a to 24d) in a vertical direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow direction control:

Implementation Method 2

Relatively warm air therefore reaches the vicinity of the wall of the indoor space (500) from where cold air is likely to enter the indoor space (500). The relatively warm air blocks the cold air from coming into the indoor space (500) from near the wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy-driven flow blocking: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

an indoor fan (31) which is disposed in the indoor casing (20) and generates flow of the air coming from the outlet opening (24a to 24d)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical force-driven airflow: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3346202B1Air-conditioning device and indoor unit
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3346202B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3346202B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3346202B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Entrance of cold air from near a wall of an indoor space is avoided. An airflow direction adjusting flap (51) is provided at a main outlet opening (24a to 24d), and changes the direction of airflow coming from the main outlet opening (24a to 24d) in a vertical direction. A load detector (91) detects a load of an indoor space (500). When the load of the indoor space (500) is higher than a predetermined value in a heating operation, the airflow direction adjusting flap (51) guides the air coming from the main outlet opening (24a to 24d) in a horizontal direction or in an upward direction with respect to the horizontal direction.