Discharge Vane Control for Fast Cooling in High-Ceilinged Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners mounted at high heights in high-ceilinged rooms struggle to rapidly and efficiently cool occupied zones while minimizing power consumption.

Innovation Solution

The air conditioner employs a method involving a power wind mode followed by a strong wind mode, with the discharge vane rotating within specific angle ranges and speeds, controlled by a vane motor, to optimize cooling and reduce energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the air conditioner is mounted at high height in a high-ceilinged room, then the air conditioner can cover the entire room space, but the cooling speed to the occupied zone becomes slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidcooling speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The discharge vane is designed to dynamically change its discharge angle based on operational phase. During pre-cooling, the vane directs air at a steeper downward angle to rapidly cool the occupied zone. During subsequent cooling, the angle adjusts to distribute air more uniformly throughout the entire room space, thus achieving both fast localized cooling and comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the discharge angle parameter of the air flow based on the cooling stage. In the first stage, a smaller discharge angle (steeper downward direction) is used to target the occupied zone directly. In the second stage, the discharge angle is increased to distribute cooling across the full room volume, resolving the contradiction between speed and coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If conventional cooling methods are used in high-ceilinged rooms, then the entire room can be cooled, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by first rapidly cooling the occupied zone where people are present using directed air flow at a specific angle. This preliminary cooling of the critical area reduces the overall cooling load required for the rest of the room, thereby reducing total power consumption while still achieving comprehensive cooling coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic adjustment of discharge vane angle optimizes air distribution efficiency. By directing air flow more steeply downward during pre-cooling, the system maximizes cooling effectiveness in the occupied zone with less energy input, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining full room coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If the discharge vane swings rapidly to cool the occupied zone, then the cooling speed increases, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by focusing cooling effort primarily on the occupied zone rather than uniformly cooling the entire room volume. By directing air flow selectively at a steeper angle to target the specific area where people are present, the system achieves fast cooling of the critical zone without the excessive energy consumption required for uniform whole-room cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 approach allows for rapid cooling of occupied zones with reduced power consumption, as demonstrated by shorter cooling times and lower energy usage compared to traditional methods.

Implementation Method 1

an air conditioner including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, wherein the indoor unit includes a casing having an air suction port and an air discharge port, an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the casing, a fan disposed in the casing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the casing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

a discharge vane for adjusting upward and downward wind directions of air discharged through the air discharge port, and a vane motor for rotating the discharge vane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Rotation:

Implementation Method 4

a vane motor for rotating the discharge vane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2913600B1Air conditioner and operation method of the same
Publication Date: 2018.05.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2913600B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2913600B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2913600B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation method of an air conditioner is disclosed. The operation method includes performing a cooling operation in a power wind mode selected as a wind quantity mode and swinging a discharge vane (12) within an angle range of 32 to 64 degrees from a maximum opening angle (P2) as a first step(S1, S2, S3, S4), and performing the cooling operation in a strong wind mode having lower intensity of wind than the power wind mode selected as the wind quantity mode as a second step (S5, S6), the second step (S5, S6)being executed after the first step (S1, S2, S3, S4) In a case in which the air conditioner is mounted at a high height in a high-ceilinged room, it is possible to rapidly cool an occupied zone of the room with the minimum power consumption and to prevent the occupied zone of the room from being excessively cooled.