Ceiling or wall-mounted apparatus for introducing cooled or heated air into a room
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ceiling and wall units for air conditioning in rooms suffer from uneven heating and cooling, leading to uncomfortable drafts due to rapid descent of cold air and lingering warm air near the ceiling.
Innovation Solution
The design features inclined air outlet channels with adjustable angles and a sliding panel system that allows for precise control of air flow, ensuring deep and uniform air penetration without drafts, with warm air flowing down earlier and cool air staying longer near the ceiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cold air is released directly into the room through conventional outlets, then cooling function is provided, but cold air sinks too quickly causing uncomfortable drafts
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is divided into multiple air outlet channels with different inclination angles. Cold air channels have smaller inclination angles (0-30 degrees) to guide cold air along the ceiling, preventing rapid descent and drafts, while warm air channels have larger inclination angles (30-60 degrees) to promote downward flow and prevent stratification.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the air outlet are assigned different functions: cold air outlet channels are positioned and angled to maintain ceiling-level flow, while warm air outlet channels are angled to promote mixing and downward flow. This local differentiation optimizes each channel's performance for its specific air type.
2Temperature
If warm air is released through conventional outlets, then heating function is provided, but warm air remains near the ceiling causing uneven heating and drafts
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is segmented into dedicated warm air channels with larger inclination angles (30-60 degrees) that promote downward flow. This segmentation ensures warm air is actively directed toward the occupied zone, preventing ceiling-level stratification and improving temperature uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
Warm air outlet channels are specifically designed with larger inclination angles compared to cold air channels. This local quality differentiation optimizes warm air distribution by promoting mixing and downward flow in the regions where warm air is discharged.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple air outlet channels with different angles are used, then optimal air conditioning without drafts is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air outlet channels with different inclination angles are merged into a single integrated air outlet ring structure. This combines the functions of separate cold and warm air outlets into one compact component, achieving draft-free air conditioning without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The air outlet ring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses both cold air channels and warm air channels, provides structural support, and enables selective opening/closing of different channel types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.
4Ease of operation
If a sliding baffle is added to control air flow, then precise air supply control is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sliding baffle mechanism is implemented that allows dynamic adjustment of air flow distribution between cold and warm air channels. The baffle can be positioned to selectively open or close different channel types, enabling precise control of air supply in response to varying thermal conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding baffle system enables the air conditioning unit to automatically adapt to different operating modes (cooling, heating, or mixed) by controlling which air outlet channels are active. This self-adjustment capability reduces the need for complex external control systems.
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 solution achieves optimal air conditioning with uniform temperature control and energy efficiency, preventing air stratification and drafts by adjusting air flow based on duct widths and angles, allowing for precise control over air supply.
Implementation Method 1
a fan wheel is arranged, which draws in room or outside air through a central air inlet in the lower or front of the housing and conveys heated or cooled air via a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
This makes it possible to assign the optimal task to each of the various angled air outlet ducts. This ensures that cooled air does not immediately fall downwards, but is guided along the ceiling for a longer period, and that warmed air flows downwards early, thus preventing air stratification.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The air circulation apparatus (1) has a flat housing (2) in which a fan impeller is arranged. An air inlet (5) is surrounded by an air outlet ring which is divided into air outlet channels (7,8) oriented diagonally downward or front side (3) of housing such that air flow is helically guided into space. The slanting angle of air outlet channel (7) is set different than that of air outlet channel (8).