Circular Indoor Unit Layout for Uniform Air Conditioner Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with irregularly shaped discharge ports due to internal component arrangements in the housing suffer from uneven airflow delivery into rooms, leading to reduced cooling or heating efficiency and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a circular heat exchanger with a discharge port arrangement that maximizes airflow by using a coanda curved surface and an airflow controller, eliminating the need for a blade and optimizing the placement of components like the drain tray and refrigerant pipe connecting unit within the housing to ensure uniform airflow and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If components are arranged inside the housing to accommodate functional requirements, then the air conditioner can perform cooling/heating functions, but the discharge port becomes irregularly shaped causing uneven airflow delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the drain tray from the internal housing space to the external bottom surface of the housing. This dimensional relocation allows the internal housing to maintain a clear circular cross-section for the discharge port, while the external drain tray handles water drainage functionality. Similarly, the refrigerant pipe connecting unit is positioned externally, allowing internal components to be arranged optimally without compromising the circular discharge port shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the housing into distinct functional zones: the circular housing body contains the heat exchanger and airflow path, while external attachments (drain tray, refrigerant pipe connecting unit) handle auxiliary functions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing maintains a perfect circular cross-section for uniform airflow, while external components provide necessary functionality without interfering with the discharge port geometry.
2Ease of operation
If a blade is used to control discharged airflow, then airflow direction can be adjusted, but pressure loss increases and interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the blade component entirely from the airflow path. Instead of using a mechanical blade to control airflow direction, the system relies on the natural flow characteristics created by the circular discharge port and heat exchanger arrangement. This extraction of the blade eliminates the pressure loss and interference that would be caused by the blade's presence in the airflow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical blade-based airflow control system with a streamlined design that uses the geometry of the discharge port and heat exchanger to naturally guide airflow. The circular configuration and smooth transitions create favorable flow patterns without requiring mechanical intervention, thereby reducing pressure loss and eliminating blade interference.
3Ease of manufacture
If the discharge port is formed into an irregular shape to accommodate components, then components can be disposed, but air is irregularly delivered to the interior of the room
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates components that would normally occupy internal housing space (drain tray, refrigerant pipe connecting unit) to external positions. This frees up the internal housing volume to maintain a circular cross-section throughout, ensuring the discharge port is perfectly circular. The circular geometry ensures uniform airflow delivery to the room, while external component placement maintains ease of manufacture and assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the housing and component layout in advance to ensure the discharge port maintains a circular shape from the outset. The heat exchanger is configured as an annular structure that naturally forms a circular discharge opening, and components are positioned externally before assembly to prevent any distortion of the circular geometry. This preliminary planning ensures uniform airflow delivery without requiring post-manufacturing adjustments.
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 ensures uniform airflow distribution, enhances cooling or heating performance, and improves the aesthetic appeal by maintaining a circular design while reducing pressure loss and interference from blades.
Implementation Method 1
a coanda curved surface and an airflow controller
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
In an air conditioner according to the present invention, a drain extraction unit and a refrigerant pipe connecting unit maybe disposed in a blocking region in which a discharge port is not provided so that a size of the discharge port may be secured and the discharge port may be uniformly disposed, thereby generating uniform airflow in a room. In addition, in a lower housing formed in a circular shape, some of components inside an indoor unit of the air conditioner maybe disposed in a protrusion portion that protrudes from the circular housing, so that the discharge port may be maximized and protrusion directions of a protrusion cover may coincide with each other, thereby facilitating the installation of the air conditioner. In addition, a condensate water collecting space that is disposed outside the housing may be provided in a drain tray, thereby efficiently preventing a leakage due to condensate water generated outside the housing. In addition, the housing, the drain tray, and the cover member of the air conditioner may be coupled by a coupling member coupled outside, thereby improving the durability of the indoor unit of the air conditioner.