Multi-Port Airflow Control in Air Conditioners for Quiet Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners face issues with temperature control, noise, and discomfort due to direct air discharge, and require large panels for radiant systems, leading to slow cooling rates and high construction costs.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design featuring a housing with multiple blowing ports, doors, and a guide blade to control air flow direction and velocity, allowing for varied discharge methods, including downward, upward, and windless modes, which can cool or heat an indoor space without direct air contact, improving user comfort and reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the rotational speed of the blowing fan is increased to achieve fast air velocity, then cooling performance is improved, but noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the air discharge function into multiple blowing ports (first blowing port and second blowing port) with different functions. The first blowing port discharges air horizontally for rapid cooling, while the second blowing port discharges air upward for circulation, allowing the system to achieve cooling performance without excessively increasing fan speed in a single port, thereby reducing noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a large panel is used in radiant air conditioner to implement identical performance, then cooling performance is improved, but construction costs increase and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidpanel size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a guide blade as an intermediary component to control air flow direction. The guide blade redirects air from the first blowing port through the second blowing port, enabling the system to achieve radiant cooling effects without requiring a large panel, thus reducing device complexity and construction costs while maintaining cooling performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If air is discharged directly to indoor space through narrow and long path, then cooling performance is improved, but user comfort deteriorates due to direct contact with cold air

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoiduser discomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the air discharge into two paths: direct discharge through the first blowing port for rapid cooling, and indirect discharge through the second blowing port for comfortable circulation. This allows the system to maintain high cooling performance while providing users with the option to avoid direct cold air contact, thereby improving comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discharging all air directly downward through a narrow path, the patent inverts the discharge direction for part of the air by directing it upward through the second blowing port. This creates a more comfortable air flow pattern that circulates air throughout the room without directly contacting users, while still achieving effective cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 enables efficient air flow control, enhancing user satisfaction by providing comfortable indoor temperature adjustments without direct air discharge, reducing noise, and optimizing space and construction costs.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing fan configured to suction air into the housing to flow the air to the first blowing port or the second blowing port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Implementation Method 2

an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separately installed, and an integral type air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are integrally installed in one cabinet. The indoor unit of the separate type air conditioner includes a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into a panel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3396266B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3396266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3396266B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3396266B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air conditioner includes a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into a housing and a blowing fan configured to blow the air which is heat-exchanged with the heat exchanger to outside of the housing. The air conditioner may control a first and a second doors configured to open or close a first and second blowing ports provided in the housing and a guide blade configured to control paths in the housing, so that the air conditioner may blow the air of various flow.