Air purifier and control method therefor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cleaners suffer from uneven air distribution, leading to cold drafts and inefficient air purification due to a fixed outlet volume and biased air flow, which can result in incomplete space coverage and reduced effectiveness, especially in low circulation modes.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaner with a movable panel and controller that adjusts air volume by opening or closing channels between the outlet and panel, allowing for uniform air discharge through holes of varying diameters, and includes sensors for user detection and dust concentration monitoring to optimize operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air flow is controlled based on fan revolution speed with a fixed outlet volume, then the air cleaner structure is simple, but air discharge is biased toward certain spaces causing cold drafts and uneven air distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet panel is made movable instead of fixed, allowing it to change position dynamically. The panel can move between a first position (closing the outlet) and a second position (opening the outlet), enabling the system to adapt air discharge patterns to different operational conditions and prevent biased air flow that causes cold drafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the outlet by altering the panel position. By moving the panel between different positions, the effective outlet area and air discharge characteristics are dynamically adjusted, transforming the air distribution pattern from biased to uniform without changing the fundamental outlet structure.
2Productivity
If air volume discharged per unit time is reduced for comfort during sleeping, then user comfort is improved, but air cleaning function becomes insufficient due to biased discharge from limited outlet space
Solution Approach 1:
The movable panel enables dynamic adjustment of the outlet configuration. During low air volume operation (such as sleeping mode), the panel moves to the first position to close the outlet, forcing air to discharge uniformly through the panel's surface area rather than concentrating in specific directions, thereby maintaining air cleaning effectiveness while preventing cold drafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the discharge parameters by altering panel position. This transforms the air flow pattern from biased (when outlet is open) to uniform (when outlet is closed), allowing the system to maintain effective air cleaning at reduced air volumes by optimizing the distribution pattern through parameter change.
3Productivity
If air is discharged through a fixed outlet space, then the outlet structure is simple, but it is impossible to evenly purify the whole use space or takes long time to fully purify
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet panel is designed to move dynamically between positions, allowing the system to optimize air discharge patterns for different purification needs. This dynamic capability enables faster and more uniform purification of the entire use space by preventing biased air discharge that would otherwise require longer operation times.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the panel position parameter, the system transforms the air discharge characteristics to achieve more uniform spatial distribution. This parameter change enables the air cleaner to efficiently purify the whole use space without requiring complex multi-outlet structures.
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
The solution prevents cold drafts and ensures uniform air purification by adjusting air volume and flow based on user presence and dust levels, enhancing the air cleaner's ability to evenly cover the space and maintain comfort.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower configured to blow air introduced through the inlet to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
a driver configured to move the panel with respect to the housing; and a controller configured to control the driver to move the panel to open or close a channel between the outlet and the panel and adjust an air volume discharged through the holes of the panel
Data Source
AI summary
An air cleaner includes: a housing including an inlet and an outlet for air; an air blower configured to blow air introduced through the inlet to the outlet; a panel configured to face the outlet and including holes; a driver configured to move the panel with respect to the housing; and a controller configured to control the driver to move the panel to open or close a channel between the outlet and the panel and adjust an air volume discharged through the holes of the panel. Thus, the air cleaner prevents a cold draft phenomenon.