Indoor Airflow Blade Structure to Prevent AC Dew Condensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air conditioning indoor units experience dew condensation on surfaces not followed by cool air due to design-related narrower gaps between the upper surface of the auxiliary flap and the blow-out port, leading to inefficient cooling and condensation issues.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an airflow direction adjusting blade with a heat insulator and concave portions at the ends, reducing the thickness of the blade member to inhibit heat transfer and prevent dew condensation, while maintaining the blade's structural integrity and moldability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the upper surface of the auxiliary flap and the upper end of the blow-out port have a narrower gap, then the structure is more compact, but dew condensation is formed on the upper surface due to insufficient cool air flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoiddew condensation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The concave portion is formed in advance on the auxiliary flap surface to create a heat insulating structure before the cooling operation begins. This preliminary structural modification ensures that when cool air flows along the flap, the concave portion immediately provides thermal insulation to prevent dew condensation, without requiring any active control or adjustment during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The concave portion is localized at specific positions on the auxiliary flap where dew condensation is most likely to occur. By creating a localized heat insulating structure rather than modifying the entire flap, the design maintains structural compactness while providing targeted protection against dew condensation at the critical areas where cool air contact occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the blade member thickness is reduced to form concave portions, then heat transfer is inhibited and dew condensation is prevented, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedew condensation preventionVSAvoidblade member strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness parameter of the blade member is changed by forming concave portions with controlled depth and width. By carefully controlling the dimensional parameters of the concave portions (not removing too much material), the design achieves sufficient heat insulation to prevent dew condensation while maintaining the structural strength required for the auxiliary flap to function properly as an airflow direction adjusting component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively prevents dew condensation on the airflow direction adjusting blade by reducing heat transfer and cooling of surfaces not followed by blow-out air, enhancing the unit's operational efficiency and design aesthetics.

Implementation Method 1

The airflow direction adjusting blade includes a heat insulator, a blade member, and at least one concave portion. The heat insulator is filled with gas or a heat insulating material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

The concave portion is formed in at least one of an upstream-side end and a downstream-side end of the blade member in a flow direction of the blow-out air by reducing a thickness of the blade member in the surface followed by the blow-out air. The concave portion inhibits heat transfer.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

The blade member has a surface followed by the blow-out air and cooled by cool air during cooling operation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 4

The blade member has another surface that is not followed by the blow-out air and is in contact with warm indoor air. The surface, not followed by the blow-out air, of the blade member is cooled due to heat conduction via the blade member to have dew condensation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3690340B1Air conditioner indoor unit
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP3690340B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3690340B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3690340B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It is an object of the invention to provide an air conditioning indoor unit that does not form dew condensation on a surface not followed by cool air even in a state where an airflow direction adjusting blade is used with cool air flowing along one of an upper surface and a lower surface. An air conditioning indoor unit (1) includes a blade member (32) constituting an outer contour of a first airflow direction adjusting blade (30) and having a concave portion (33) formed by reducing a thickness of the blade member (32), and the concave portion inhibits heat transfer. This also inhibits cooling a surface, not followed by blow-out air, of the blade member (32) to inhibit dew condensation.