Air-conditioning apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning apparatuses face issues with poor air circulation, high energy consumption, noise, and temperature nonuniformity due to duct configuration and placement, leading to reduced comfortability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning apparatus allows multiple ducts to be connected to each sidewall of the indoor unit through joints, enabling the body casing to be positioned in the middle of the room, reducing duct length and bending angles, and providing a greater number of outlet units for uniform air distribution, thus minimizing ventilation resistance and preventing short cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the body casing is disposed in a corner of the room with ducts connected to a single sidewall, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air circulation efficiency deteriorates due to poor air circulation in areas far from the body casing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the air distribution system into multiple independent duct connections on different sidewalls of the body casing, allowing air to be distributed to multiple locations simultaneously. This segmentation enables better coverage of the room space while maintaining a relatively simple central unit structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point (corner) installation to a multi-point distribution system by connecting ducts to multiple sidewalls. This dimensional expansion of the air distribution network improves circulation efficiency without significantly increasing the complexity of the body casing itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the duct length is increased to reach opposite side outlet units, then the adaptability of the system is improved, but the ventilation resistance increases leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides different duct connection configurations for different sidewalls of the body casing, allowing each outlet unit to be positioned at optimal locations. This local optimization reduces duct lengths and bending angles for each individual connection, thereby reducing ventilation resistance and energy consumption while maintaining overall system adaptability.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple ducts are connected to the same sidewall through a single body outlet port, then the quantity of outlet units is increased, but the ventilation resistance increases due to impingement on the sidewall
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides multiple body outlet ports on different sidewalls of the body casing, allowing multiple ducts to be distributed across different locations rather than concentrated at a single port. This segmentation reduces the number of ducts impinging on any single sidewall area, thereby reducing ventilation resistance while maintaining the ability to serve multiple outlet units.
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 air circulation, reduces energy consumption, and improves comfortability by ensuring uniform temperature distribution and lower noise levels, resulting in a more efficient and comfortable indoor environment.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal fan (1)
Implementation Method 2
an indoor heat exchanger (16)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a body casing of an indoor unit formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The body casing is formed with a body inlet port on a body bottom, and a body outlet port is formed in each body side. The body casing houses a centrifugal fan, a fan motor rotatably driving the centrifugal fan, and an indoor heat exchanger disposed so as to surround an outer periphery of the centrifugal fan in planar view. In each of the body outlet port, a joint is protrudingly provided with a body-side duct connecting portion that connects a duct thereto. Further, outlet ports are formed. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of outlet units each protrudingly provided with an outlet-side duct connecting portion that connects the duct thereto. Furthermore, at least one of the joints is formed with a plurality of the body-side duct connecting portions.