Circular Indoor Unit Layout for Stronger Wall AC Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wall-mounted air conditioners are limited by their stripe-shaped design, which restricts airflow and temperature adjustment, failing to meet modern aesthetic and performance requirements.

Innovation Solution

A wall-mounted air conditioner with a circular or approximately circular indoor unit design featuring an arc surface, an inclined air outlet, and a unique flow air apparatus that includes sequentially arranged airduct bodies and a centrifugal fan, allowing for efficient air direction and temperature adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a traditional stripe-shaped design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the airflow capability and temperature adjustment are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spheroidality by designing the indoor unit with a circular or approximately circular orthographic projection instead of the traditional stripe shape. The front housing features an arc surface where the upper and lower portions contract backwards while the middle portion protrudes forwards, creating a curved, three-dimensional structure that improves airflow capability while maintaining aesthetic appeal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Productivity

If the air outlet is positioned at the front, then the structure is traditional and simple, but the air flow capability and temperature adjustment are restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature adjustmentVSAvoidinstallation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies inversion by positioning the air outlet at the lower portion of the front housing instead of the traditional front center position. The air outlet is configured with an inclined direction where the upper portion is forward and the lower portion is backward at an angle of 4°-45°, enabling improved temperature adjustment and airflow distribution while maintaining installation flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Volume of moving object

If the housing size is minimized, then the installation space is reduced, but the space for internal components and airflow paths is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing volumeVSAvoidairflow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies nesting by arranging the rear housing within the limiting area of the front housing, with the outer profile curve of the rear housing located inside the outer profile curve of the front housing. This nested configuration minimizes the overall housing volume while providing sufficient space for heat exchangers, flow air apparatus, and airflow paths, achieving both compact installation and efficient airflow

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

The design provides a unique appearance, efficient airflow, and effective temperature adjustment while minimizing the unit's size, ensuring optimal performance and user comfort.

Implementation Method 1

a volute and a centrifugal fan located inside the volute are disposed inside the housing and above the flow air apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

heat exchangers are disposed inside the housing, orthographic projection of the front housing and the rear housing are both circular or approximately circular

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3051214B1Wall-mounted air conditioner
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP LTD
  • EP3051214B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3051214B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3051214B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention discloses a wall-mounted air conditioner, including an indoor unit, where the indoor unit includes a front housing and a rear housing forming housing, the housing is provided with main air intake portions, heat exchangers are disposed inside the housing, orthographic projection of the front housing and the rear housing are both circular or approximately circular, the rear housing is located within a limiting area of the front housing, a surface of the front housing is an arc surface in which an upper portion and a lower portion contract backwards and a middle portion protrudes forwards, and a lower portion of the front housing is provided with an air outlet. The wall-mounted air conditioner according to the present invention breaks a traditional structure of an existing wall-mounted air conditioner and can exhaust air backwards, thereby ensuring fast flow and temperature adjustment of indoor air.