Ceiling Air Conditioner Indoor Unit With Airflow-Guiding Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioner indoor units face issues with workability due to the need to disassemble the heat exchanger when separating the drain pan, leading to potential damage and uneven air discharge, which results in user complaints and noise due to concentrated airflow.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates supporting guides between the heat exchanger and fan to stabilize the heat exchanger and distribute airflow evenly, allowing for stable operation and maintenance without disassembling the entire unit, while the supporting guides are designed to guide air discharged from the fan to the panel outlet ports, ensuring uniform air volume and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the heat exchanger is seated on the drain pan, then the structure is simple, but the workability is degraded and the drain pan may be damaged when separating the drain pan
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting structure is divided into two independent parts: the drain pan and the supporting guides fixed to the cabinet. This segmentation allows the drain pan to be separated for maintenance without moving the heat exchanger, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
Supporting guides are introduced as an intermediary component between the cabinet and the heat exchanger. These guides provide stable support for the heat exchanger while allowing the drain pan to be independently removed, improving workability without complicating the overall structure.
2Device complexity
If the entire load of the heat exchanger is supported by the drain pan, then the structure is simple, but the drain pan may be damaged or separated
Solution Approach 1:
The load support function is segmented between the cabinet (via supporting guides) and the drain pan. The supporting guides bear the main weight of the heat exchanger, while the drain pan only supports its own weight and condensation, eliminating the risk of drain pan damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting guides act as an intermediary load-bearing structure that transfers the weight of the heat exchanger to the cabinet, relieving the drain pan from bearing the heat exchanger's load and preventing damage.
3Reliability
If air flow passes through the heat exchanger, then heat exchange is achieved, but the discharge of air is concentrated to a certain section leading to uneven air volume and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting guides are strategically positioned at specific locations to locally redirect airflow. This creates different airflow characteristics in different regions, distributing the air flow evenly across the discharge port while maintaining effective heat exchange in all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting guides serve as intermediary structures that intercept and redirect airflow from the heat exchanger. By positioning these guides at specific locations, the airflow is distributed more evenly across the discharge port, preventing concentration and reducing noise.
Data Source
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AI summary
An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet installed at a ceiling of an indoor space; a front panel configured to shield the cabinet, and having a suction port through which indoor air is suctioned and a panel outlet port through which heat-exchanged air is discharged; a fan provided at an inside of the cabinet; a heat exchanger provided inside the cabinet, and disposed to surround a perimeter of the fan; and a supporting guide installed on the cabinet between the heat exchanger and the fan, and configured to guide the air discharged from the fan to be distributed and discharged toward the panel outlet port.