Curved Fan Cover Shell for Low-Drag Air Conditioner Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning units face challenges in enhancing heat dissipation efficiency, reducing pressure drop, and noise in outdoor units, particularly in optimizing the fan cover shell design to improve air convection and heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A fan cover shell design featuring an outer frame with annular auxiliary reinforcement ribs and main reinforcement ribs forming multi-section curves that intersect to create ventilation grills, with specific arc-shaped air guide surfaces and optimized rib spacings to reduce windage and promote smooth airflow, is introduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional straight reinforcement ribs are used in the fan cover shell, then the structural strength is sufficient, but the air guide effect is poor and windage is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement ribs are designed with curved surfaces instead of straight lines. The main reinforcement ribs extend from the center toward the outer frame with curved profiles, and the auxiliary reinforcement ribs are arranged annularly with curvature. This curved configuration guides airflow smoothly along the rib surfaces, reducing windage and improving air guide effect while maintaining structural strength.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fan cover shell structure is simplified, then the manufacturing is easier, but the heat dissipation effect and noise reduction are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement rib structure is segmented into two distinct parts: main reinforcement ribs that provide primary structural support and airflow guidance from the center, and auxiliary reinforcement ribs arranged annularly that provide additional support and enhance airflow organization. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility.
3Strength
If reinforcement ribs are added to improve structural strength, then the shell becomes stronger, but the airflow is obstructed and pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surfaces of the main and auxiliary reinforcement ribs are designed to guide airflow smoothly rather than obstruct it. The curvature of the ribs creates streamlined flow paths that reduce turbulence and pressure drop, allowing the structural reinforcement to be achieved without significantly increasing airflow resistance.
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 design enhances air guide and heat transfer performance by minimizing windage, promoting turbulence, and preventing inverse suction, thereby improving the overall heat dissipation and noise reduction in air conditioning units.
Implementation Method 1
promoting turbulence
Implementation Method 2
minimizing windage
Implementation Method 3
improve the flow area between air and the heat dissipation fins and thus the heat transfer effect
Data Source
AI summary
The present utility model provides a fan cover shell and an air conditioning unit having the same. The fan cover shell includes an outer frame; multiple annular auxiliary reinforcement ribs, arranged from the center of the fan cover shell towards the outer frame; and multiple main reinforcement ribs, respectively extending from the center of the fan cover shell to the outer frame and intersecting with the auxiliary reinforcement ribs to form multiple ventilation grills; the main reinforcement rib forms a multi-section curve, and any adjacent curves of the multi-section curve bend towards a reverse direction. According to the fan cover shell of the present utility model, a better air guide effect is achieved by optimizing the main reinforcement ribs.