Built-in type air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Built-in type air conditioners installed on ceilings face challenges in maintaining efficient heat exchange while minimizing height, as a flat-plate heat exchanger's vertical orientation leads to uneven airflow and reduced efficiency when tilted.
Innovation Solution
A V-shaped heat exchanger is tilted at a predetermined angle, with the air blow-out port positioned to ensure even airflow over both the upper and lower heat exchangers, and a centrifugal air blower is used to enhance airflow distribution, along with a drain pump and refrigerant pipe configuration to optimize space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the flat-plate type heat exchanger is tilted to suppress the height of the air conditioner, then the height is reduced, but the distance between the fan and heat exchanger becomes greatly uneven, lowering heat exchange efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple heat exchange sections (first, second, third, and fourth sections) arranged in a stepped configuration. This segmentation allows each section to be positioned at different distances from the fan, ensuring relatively uniform airflow distribution across all sections while maintaining a compact overall height.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger transitions from a simple tilted configuration to a three-dimensional stepped structure. By arranging heat exchange sections in multiple levels and positions (some extending toward the fan, others away), the design utilizes spatial dimensions to achieve both height reduction and uniform airflow distribution.
2Productivity
If the capacity of the heat exchanger is increased with vertical mounting, then heat exchange capacity increases, but the size of the air conditioner increases in the vertical direction
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger capacity is increased by extending the heat exchange surface in horizontal and diagonal directions rather than purely vertically. The stepped configuration with sections at different positions allows greater total heat exchange area without proportionally increasing the overall vertical height of the unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple heat exchange sections are nested in a compact stepped arrangement, with sections positioned to utilize available space efficiently. This nested configuration allows increased heat exchange capacity within a constrained vertical envelope.
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 enhances heat-exchange efficiency while reducing the overall height of the air conditioner, ensuring even airflow and improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
the air blowing fan is a centrifugal air blower
Implementation Method 2
an air blow-out duct is provided to an unit body containing a heat exchanger and a fan
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A built-in type air conditioner (30,40) having a unit body (35, 135) in which a heat exchanger (60)and an air blowing fan (55) are mounted, characterized in that the heat exchanger (60) comprises a planar upper heat exchanger (71) and a planar lower heat exchanger (72) that are joined to each other to have a V-shape in side view, and the air blowing fan (55) has an air blow-out port (68) that is disposed so as to confront the apex of the V-shape of the V-shaped heat exchanger.