Ceiling-Embedded Air Conditioner Air Guide Path for Balanced Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ceiling-embedded air conditioners, the placement of a heat exchanger around a blowing fan creates a short circuit when air is blown towards suction openings, limiting heat exchange performance due to ventilation resistance and housing design constraints.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling-embedded air conditioner design featuring a box-shaped main unit with a heat exchanger and air blower, where the heat exchanger is divided into front and rear parts facing each other, with an air blowing chamber between them, and an air suction chamber outside, allowing air to be guided through a path formed by ducts and a drain pan to expand the air flow area, enabling the heat exchanger to be positioned without a suction opening on the air blowing direction side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the heat exchanger is disposed around the blowing fan, then the heat exchange performance can be increased, but a short circuit occurs when air is blown toward suction openings
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into a front heat exchange part and a rear heat exchange part that face each other, with the blowing fan housed between them. This segmentation allows the heat exchanger to surround the blowing fan while preventing air short circuiting by directing air flow through designated paths.
Solution Approach 2:
An air guide path is introduced as an intermediary structure formed between the decorative panel and the drain pan. This air guide path directs air from the air suction part through the second air suction chamber to the front heat exchange part, preventing direct short circuiting while maintaining heat exchange efficiency.
2Productivity
If the heat exchanger is provided near the suction opening to reduce ventilation resistance, then the air passage length is reduced, but the heat exchanger cannot be disposed on the air blowing direction side
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide path utilizes the vertical space between the decorative panel and the drain pan to create a three-dimensional air flow path. This allows air to be guided from the air suction part through the second air suction chamber to the front heat exchange part without extending the horizontal passage length, thus reducing ventilation resistance while enabling flexible heat exchanger placement.
3Productivity
If the air guide path cross-sectional area is increased to improve air flow, then the ventilation resistance is reduced, but the housing space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The air guide path utilizes the vertical dimension between the decorative panel and the drain pan to increase its cross-sectional area. By forming the air guide path in this vertical space, the air flow capacity is enhanced without increasing the horizontal footprint or overall housing volume, thus improving air flow while respecting housing space constraints.
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 allows the heat exchanger to be placed where a suction opening cannot be provided, enhancing heat exchange performance by optimizing air flow and reducing ventilation resistance.
Implementation Method 1
The air sucked from the suction opening can exchange heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
a blowing fan formed of a sirocco fan surrounded by the fan casing are provided
Data Source
AI summary
In a mode in which a blowing fan is disposed in an air blowing chamber surrounded by heat exchangers, air sucked from an air blowing opening is directed to each heat exchanger without bias. Even in a mode in which an air blower is disposed in an air blowing chamber which is formed between a first heat exchange part and a second heat exchange part disposed to face each other, and an air suction opening is disposed on the side of a second air suction chamber outside the second heat exchange part, an air guide path is formed from the air suction part to a first air suction chamber on the side of the first heat exchange part between the rear surface of the decorative panel and the bottom surface of the drain pan, so that the air sucked from the air blowing opening is directed to the first heat exchange part and the second heat exchange part without bias.