Ceiling Air Conditioner Movable Panel Design to Reduce Air Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceiling-type air conditioner indoor units face challenges in delivering heated air to areas near the ground due to limited size, leading to mixing of blown and intake air, which reduces air blowing effect and increases energy loss.
Innovation Solution
An indoor air conditioner unit with a movable panel that separates air inlet and outlet, allowing for adjustable angles to prevent air recirculation and enhance air blowing direction, combined with a driving device for efficient panel movement, ensuring better air distribution and reduced energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the air blowing speed and static pressure are increased to deliver heated air to areas near the ground, then the air blowing effect is improved, but the blown air is easier to be drawn by the air inlet, causing mixing of blown air and intake air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air handling system into separate pathways by introducing a partition plate that physically segments the air inlet and air outlet regions. This segmentation prevents the mixing of blown air and intake air while maintaining high air blowing speed and static pressure for effective heated air delivery to ground-level areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition plate serves as an intermediary structure between the air inlet and air outlet. It acts as a physical barrier that mediates the air flow paths, preventing direct mixing while allowing both inlet and outlet operations to function at optimal performance levels.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the distance between air inlet and air outlet is increased to reduce air mixing, then the air blowing effect is improved, but the indoor unit size must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the horizontal distance between air inlet and air outlet, the patent introduces a vertical dimension by installing a partition plate that extends downward from the bottom surface of the casing. This dimensional approach effectively increases the separation between air paths without increasing the overall unit footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition plate segments the internal space into distinct inlet and outlet zones, achieving effective separation of air paths within the existing compact unit dimensions, thus avoiding the need to increase the overall indoor unit size.
3Shape
If the panel closes both air inlet and air outlet when not operating, then aesthetic appearance is improved and dust entry is prevented, but air flow path must be completely blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is designed as a movable component that can dynamically switch between open and closed positions. When closed, it provides aesthetic appearance and dust prevention; when open, it allows unobstructed air flow. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between appearance and operational functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel is segmented into a movable portion and a fixed portion, allowing the movable portion to be opened for air flow while the fixed portion maintains the aesthetic closure and structural integrity of the unit.
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 improves air blowing effect and range, reduces air mixing, and increases air blowing speed and static pressure, providing better comfort and efficiency in heating operations.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger disposed in the receiving cavity and adjacent to the air inlet so as to perform heat exchanging with an air flow entering the receiving cavity via the air inlet
Implementation Method 2
a fan disposed in the receiving cavity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Disclosed is an air conditioning indoor machine, comprising: a housing (1) defining an accommodating chamber (10), the bottom of the accommodating chamber (10) being provided with an air inlet (11) and an air outlet (12) spaced apart; a heating exchanger (2) and a fan (3) provided in the accommodating chamber (10); and a panel (4), the panel (4) being provided at the bottom of the housing (1) and constructed to be movable between a closing position in which the air inlet (11) and the air outlet (12) are closed at the same time and an opening position in which the air inlet (11) and the air outlet (12) are opened at the same time. In the opening position, the panel (4) at least partially insulates the air entering the air inlet (11) from the air exiting the air outlet (12).