Cooling Unit Layout to Preserve Airflow Around Integrated Controls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling devices for heating element storage boxes experience a decrease in air flow rate and cooling capacity due to the installation of control devices, which can lead to inefficient heat exchange and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The cooling device incorporates a heat exchanger with an indoor air channel, outdoor air channel, indoor and outdoor blowers, a control device, and a control device accommodating unit, where the blowers' axial direction and air suction direction are parallel, and the heat exchanger is positioned downstream of both blowers, with the control device unit strategically placed to minimize airflow obstruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the control device is installed in the section where the fan is disposed, then the control function is integrated, but the air flow rate is lowered and cooling capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device integrationVSAvoidair flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is divided into separate functional sections: the fan section for air circulation and the control device section for operational control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without interfering with the other, specifically preventing the control device from obstructing airflow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dedicated control device accommodating section acts as an intermediary space that houses the control device without allowing it to interfere with the fan's airflow. This intermediary section serves as a buffer zone that isolates the control device from the airflow path while maintaining system integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the control device is installed in the section where the fan is disposed, then the control function is integrated, but the air blowing state to the heat transfer plate is biased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device integrationVSAvoidair blowing uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is divided into separate functional sections: the fan section for air circulation and the control device section for operational control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without interfering with the other, specifically preventing the control device from obstructing airflow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the control device is installed in the section where the fan is disposed, then the control function is integrated, but the cooling capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol device integrationVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling device is divided into separate functional sections: the fan section for air circulation and the control device section for operational control. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function optimally without interfering with the other, specifically preventing the control device from obstructing airflow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dedicated control device accommodating section acts as an intermediary space that houses the control device without allowing it to interfere with the fan's airflow. This intermediary section serves as a buffer zone that isolates the control device from the airflow path while maintaining system integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 maintains a higher air flow rate and cooling capacity by reducing pressure loss and ensuring smooth air passage through the heat exchanger, effectively addressing the issues caused by control device placement in conventional systems.

Implementation Method 1

By such forced convection, heat is exchanged through barrier walls of heat transfer plate 110, and the air in control panel 100 is cooled.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

the heat exchanger exchanges sensible heat between the air in the indoor air channel and the air in the outdoor air channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP2120524B1Cooling device
Publication Date: 2011.10.12 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2120524B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2120524B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2120524B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control device accommodating unit (15) is provided in a section (50) accommodating an indoor air blower (7) adjacently to an indoor air flow-in port (16), and an impeller (7c) of the indoor air blower (7) is sequentially opposite to the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15) by rotation of the impeller (7c), and a space (51) is formed between the indoor air flow-in port (16) and the control device accommodating unit (15). In this configuration, it is possible to obtain a cooling device decreased in drop of air flow rate and drop of cooling performance due to mounting a control device (14).