Ceiling Air Duct Wall Geometry for Stable AC Airflow Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ceiling-embedded air conditioners face issues with air flowing along the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap, leading to smudging and short cycling due to weak airflow and improper direction control.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner incorporates a blowing air duct configuration with a protruding portion on the outer air duct wall, which increases air velocity and directs airflow away from the ceiling, preventing smudging and short cycling by maintaining a consistent airflow angle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the chord length of the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap is reduced, then the air current is directed downward to prevent ceiling smudging, but the air current cannot flow along the airflow direction flap over a satisfactory distance causing short cycling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveceiling smudgingVSAvoidshort cycling prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a protruding portion at a specific location (longitudinal end portion) of the airflow direction flap. This protruding portion has a different structure (extended chord length) compared to the main body of the flap, allowing the air current to flow along this extended portion over a satisfactory distance while the rest of the flap maintains the reduced chord length configuration for directing air downward and preventing ceiling smudging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the chord length of the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap is reduced, then the air current is directed downward, but the air current flows out downward of the direction extended from the airflow direction flap

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow direction controlVSAvoidairflow direction consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding portion is strategically positioned at the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap, creating a localized extension that guides the air current to flow along the extended portion. This ensures the air current exits in the correct direction (along the extended direction of the airflow direction flap) while the reduced chord length of the main flap body maintains downward airflow direction control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the chord length of the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap is reduced, then the air current is directed downward, but the air current cannot flow along the airflow direction flap over a satisfactory distance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveceiling smudgingVSAvoidairflow path length
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the chord length specifically at the longitudinal end portion of the airflow direction flap by adding a protruding portion. This localized extension increases the length of the airflow path along the flap at the critical end portion, allowing the air current to flow along the flap over a satisfactory distance, while the overall reduced chord length configuration prevents ceiling smudging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 reduces smudging and prevents short cycling by ensuring airflow is directed correctly, maintaining a consistent angle that prevents air from being directed upward toward the ceiling, while enhancing air velocity and reducing pressure loss.

Implementation Method 1

a blowing air duct configuration with a protruding portion on the outer air duct wall, which increases air velocity and directs airflow away from the ceiling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAirflow direction control:

Data Source

PatentEP3130860B1Air conditioner
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3130860B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3130860B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3130860B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided is an air conditioner (1), including: at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet; a wall portion (11) ; an airflow direction flap; an air sending unit (17) ; and a heat exchanger (19) . The wall portion includes an inner air duct wall (41) and an outer air duct wall (43). The outer air duct wall is at a position more distant from the heat exchanger than the inner air duct wall. A distance between a center portion (43a) of the outer air duct wall in a longitudinal direction and a center portion (41a) of the inner air duct wall in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a distance between each side portion (43b) of the longitudinal center portion and each side portion (41b) of the longitudinal center portion of the inner air duct wall.