Ceiling Air Conditioning Unit Pressure-Zone Design to Reduce Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling air conditioning units generate excessive noise due to direct air ejection or suction from the fan, disrupting occupants in vehicles or rooms.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioning unit employs a fan, either axial or centrifugal, to create pressure zones within a chamber, directing air flow through an evaporative unit without direct ejection or suction, utilizing air flow paths to force air evenly through the unit, reducing noise and improving air distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the fan directly ejects or draws air from the evaporative unit, then air flow through the evaporative unit is achieved, but noise level increases to an unsatisfactory level

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelVSAvoidair flow through evaporative unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary pressure zone between the fan and the evaporative unit. The fan creates a pressure zone that indirectly drives air through the evaporative unit, rather than the fan directly ejecting or drawing air from it. This intermediary mechanism reduces noise while maintaining air flow productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the fan creates a pressure zone without direct air ejection or suction from the evaporative unit, then noise level is reduced, but air flow through the evaporative unit may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise levelVSAvoidair distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters by creating a pressure zone rather than using direct fan ejection or suction. This parameter change allows the system to operate at lower noise levels while still achieving effective air distribution through the evaporative unit via pressure-driven flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly reduces noise levels while maintaining comparable performance in conditioned air volume, cooling capacity, and input power, offering a quieter operation for ceiling-mounted air conditioning systems.

Implementation Method 1

the fan, together with at least part of the chamber, creates a pressure zone, without ejecting air directly to, or without drawing air directly from, the evaporative unit, such that air moves through the evaporative unit substantially through a pressure effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure effect: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11364772B2Air conditioning unit

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 ZHANG YIYAN

AI summary

An air conditioning unit, including: a chamber; a fan, in the chamber, for effecting an entry air entering the chamber and an exit air exiting the chamber; and an evaporative unit, in the chamber, for conditioning the entry air; wherein the fan, together with at least part of the chamber, creates a pressure zone, without ejecting air directly to, or without drawing air directly from, the evaporative unit, such that air moves through the evaporative unit substantially through a pressure effect.