Distributed Air Inlet Layout for Air Conditioner Static Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners with air inlets around the front panel experience increased suction resistance, leading to insufficient output and static pressure, which complicates securing necessary static pressure.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design includes a turbofan positioned behind the bellmouth, with air inlets on the front panel and/or around it, located outside the bellmouth's opening, and a total suction area equal to or greater than 15% of the heat exchanger's projected area, along with a distance between the heat exchanger and bellmouth of at least 10% of the bellmouth's opening diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If air inlets are provided around the front panel, then the design of the front panel is improved, but the air suction resistance is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The air inlet system is segmented into multiple distributed inlets around the front panel rather than a single central inlet. This segmentation allows the design to maintain aesthetic front panel appearance while providing sufficient total inlet area to compensate for the increased resistance caused by the distributed arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The air inlet arrangement transitions from a single-point (central) inlet to a distributed multi-point inlet system around the front panel. This dimensional redistribution of inlet positions allows the system to maintain design flexibility while ensuring adequate air intake capacity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air inlets are provided around the front panel, then the design flexibility is improved, but the fan output is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The design parameters of the fan are optimized and adjusted to compensate for the increased resistance from the distributed inlet arrangement. By changing fan parameters (such as blade geometry, rotation speed, or motor power), the system maintains sufficient output performance despite the less conventional inlet configuration.
3Stress or pressure
If a turbofan is used to secure static pressure, then the necessary static pressure is achieved, but the suction noise is augmented
Solution Approach 1:
The turbofan, which inherently generates more suction noise, is combined with the distributed air inlet arrangement. The multiple inlets distribute the air intake across different locations, which helps to reduce the noise concentration and convert the potential harm of high noise into a more acceptable level while maintaining the high static pressure capability.
4Productivity
If the turbofan is disposed behind the bellmouth, then the air flow is generated, but the air flows unevenly through the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The bellmouth acts as an intermediary component between the turbofan and the heat exchanger. It serves as a flow conditioning element that helps to distribute the air flow more evenly from the turbofan across the heat exchanger surface, preventing concentrated flow patterns and improving overall heat exchange efficiency.
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 secures necessary static pressure, reduces suction noise, and enhances air conditioning efficiency by allowing air to flow over a larger area of the heat exchanger, while maintaining a thinner external shape and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a turbofan, which generates an air flow in which air is suctioned from air inlets, passes through a heat exchanger and an opening of a bellmouth, and is blown out from air outlets
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is an air conditioner capable of securing the necessary static pressure even when the arrangement of air inlets is such that the suction resistance tends to increase. The air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger (4), a bellmouth (13) disposed behind the indoor heat exchanger (4) such that its opening (14) through which air passes faces the indoor heat exchanger (4), and a front panel (22) that covers the front side of the indoor heat exchanger (4). The air conditioner is provided with a casing (2) having air inlets (8 - 11) and air outlets (6, 7), and a turbofan (5) that generates an air flow in which air is sucked in from the air inlets (8 -11), passes through the indoor heat exchanger (4) and the opening (14) of the bellmouth (13), and is blown out from the air outlets (6, 7). The air inlets (8 -11) are provided in the front panel (22) and/or around thereof, and are located substantially outside the opening of the bellmouth (13) as seen from the front. The total suction area of the air inlets (8 -11) is equal to or greater than 15% of the projected area of the indoor heat exchanger (4) as seen from the front.