Bladeless Air Outlet Control for Low-Noise Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face issues with reduced airflow volume, increased flow noise due to turbulent flow around blades, and difficulty in controlling discharged airflow, especially in central-discharge types and those with circular outlets.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design featuring a housing with guide surfaces and a movable airflow control unit that guides discharged air without a blade structure, using Coanda curved portions and a power transmission system to control airflow direction, allowing for adjustable airflow control without rotating blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a blade structure is used to control discharged airflow, then airflow direction control is achieved, but airflow volume is decreased and flow noise is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade structure from the airflow control system. Instead of using blades to redirect air, the invention employs a bladeless diffuser design where airflow direction is controlled through the geometry and angle of the diffuser walls, eliminating the harmful interference caused by blades while maintaining directional control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved surfaces in the diffuser design, specifically using arc-shaped guide walls and curved flow paths to redirect airflow. The circular outlet and curved diffuser geometry smoothly guide air in the desired direction without the need for straight-edged blades, reducing turbulence and maintaining airflow volume
2Ease of operation
If a blade structure is used to control discharged airflow, then airflow direction control is achieved, but flow noise is increased due to turbulent flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade structure that causes turbulent flow and associated noise. The bladeless design eliminates the sharp edges and abrupt flow separations that generate noise, while directional control is achieved through the angled diffuser walls
Solution Approach 2:
The curved diffuser geometry with smooth arc-shaped walls guides airflow gradually without abrupt changes in flow direction. This curvature-based design prevents flow separation and turbulence, thereby minimizing noise generation while maintaining effective airflow direction control
3Ease of operation
If a conventional blade structure is used, then airflow control is possible, but the blade cannot be easily rotated in central-discharge types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the blade and its rotation mechanism entirely. Airflow direction is controlled by adjusting the angle of the diffuser walls or selecting different diffuser configurations, which can be done without complex rotational mechanisms, especially suitable for central-discharge ceiling-mounted units
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser structure is designed to be adjustable in angle or configurable in different positions, allowing dynamic control of airflow direction. The guide walls can be positioned at different angles to redirect airflow to various directions without requiring blade rotation
4Shape
If a circular outlet is used, then aesthetic design and central discharge are achieved, but conventional blade structure is difficult to apply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a circular outlet with curved diffuser walls that naturally guide airflow radially. The arc-shaped guide surfaces are perfectly suited for circular geometry, enabling effective airflow direction control without needing to adapt conventional straight-blade designs to curved geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the conventional blade structure that is incompatible with circular outlets and replaces it with a bladeless diffuser design where the curved walls themselves perform the airflow direction control function, making it ideally suited for circular outlet configurations
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 design enhances airflow control, reduces airflow loss, and minimizes noise by eliminating blade interference, effectively managing airflow in both central-discharge and circular outlet configurations.
Implementation Method 1
using Coanda curved portions and a power transmission system to control airflow direction
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and having a first guide surface forming the outlet and a second guide surface facing the first guide surface provided therein, a heat exchanger configured to heat-exchange air suctioned through the inlet, a blower fan configured to suction air from the inlet, heat-exchange the air by passing air through the heat exchanger, and discharge air toward the outlet, and an airflow control unit provided to be movable between a first position adjacent to one end portion of the outlet from which air is discharged and a second position spaced apart from the end portion of the outlet from which air is discharged, and protruding from the first guide surface or the second guide surface when the airflow control unit placed at the firstposition.