Air Cleaner Circulator Positioning for Clean Air Intake Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air cleaners face issues with directing clean air effectively, as outside air not undergoing cleaning is sucked into the circulator and discharged, leading to reduced clean air flow and energy loss due to increased pressure in the intake path.
Innovation Solution
The air cleaner design includes a circulator with a first inlet positioned above the second outlet, forming an air curtain region to prevent outside air inflow, and an oblique-flow fan to maximize clean air intake and minimize energy loss, with the circulator obliquely erected to optimize airflow directionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the circulator is installed obliquely to discharge clean air in a predetermined direction, then the directionality of discharged air is improved, but outside air that does not undergo cleaning operation is sucked into the circulator and discharged together
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet of the circulator is positioned at a specific location (above the second outlet of the blowing device) to create a localized clean air intake zone. This spatial differentiation ensures that the circulator selectively draws clean air from the blowing device outlet while avoiding suction of surrounding outside air, thus maintaining high clean air discharge ratio while preserving directional control
2Reliability
If the intake path area of the circulator is reduced to minimize outside air intake, then the clean air intake ratio is improved, but air volume loss increases due to increased pressure in the intake path
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet of the circulator is positioned in the vertical dimension above the second outlet of the blowing device, creating a three-dimensional spatial arrangement. This vertical positioning allows the circulator to access clean air from the blowing device outlet without requiring a large horizontal intake area, thereby maintaining high clean air intake ratio while minimizing pressure losses and air volume loss
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 increases the ratio of clean air sucked and discharged while reducing outside air intake, minimizing energy loss and ensuring efficient airflow directionality.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation fan disposed in the housing to suck air through the first inlet and then discharge the air through the first outlet to a front of the housing
Implementation Method 2
a blowing fan discharging air through the second outlet to an outside
Implementation Method 3
forming an air curtain region to prevent outside air inflow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is an air cleaner. The air cleaner includes a blowing device including a second outlet formed in an upper surface thereof in a circumferential direction and a blowing fan discharging air through the second outlet to an outside, and a circulator movably disposed above the blowing device. The circulator includes a housing extending in a front-rear direction, a first inlet being formed in a rear portion of the housing and a first outlet being formed in a front portion of the housing, a circulation fan disposed in the housing to suck air through the first inlet and then discharge the air through the first outlet to a front of the housing, and a motor rotating the circulation fan. The first inlet is disposed above the second outlet inside an imaginary extension surface vertically extending an edge of the second outlet, and is formed to have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the second outlet, thus sucking air discharged from the second outlet and increasing an intake ratio of clean air that undergoes a cleaning operation of the blowing device.