Air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
In duct-type air conditioners, the vertical orientation of the heat exchanger unit fixes the direction, making it impossible to reverse the installation, which can lead to incorrect positioning of the suction temperature sensor, affecting air conditioning control and potentially causing operators to forget to adjust the sensor's position during installation.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner design that allows the suction temperature sensor to be selectively positioned near either opening of the heat exchanger unit, with a controller to determine and notify the correctness of the sensor's arrangement, ensuring accurate installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat exchanger unit is disposed vertically with fixed orientation to ensure proper condensed water drainage, then the drain pan can receive condensed water correctly, but the suction temperature sensor may be incorrectly positioned on the downstream side of the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The suction temperature sensor is made movable between different positions (first position near third opening and second position near fourth opening) depending on the installation orientation of the heat exchanger unit. This dynamic repositioning allows the sensor to maintain correct placement on the upstream side of indoor air flow regardless of whether the unit is installed in a normal or reversed vertical orientation, thereby resolving the conflict between reliable condensed water drainage and precise sensor positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines the installation orientation of the heat exchanger unit in advance (before operation) and proactively sets the appropriate position of the suction temperature sensor accordingly. This preliminary action ensures that the sensor is correctly positioned before the air conditioning operation begins, preventing incorrect measurements and control issues that would arise from improper sensor placement.
2Ease of manufacture
If the suction temperature sensor is fixed in one position, then the installation process is simplified, but the sensor may be incorrectly positioned when the heat exchanger unit orientation is reversed
Solution Approach 1:
The suction temperature sensor is designed to be movable between multiple positions rather than fixed. This dynamic capability allows the sensor to be repositioned according to the heat exchanger unit's installation orientation, ensuring reliable air conditioning control while maintaining ease of installation through automated controller determination of the correct position.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines the heat exchanger unit's installation orientation and automatically sets the suction temperature sensor's position based on this information. This feedback mechanism ensures that the sensor is always positioned correctly relative to the indoor air flow direction, maintaining reliable air conditioning control without requiring complex manual installation procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the heat exchanger unit orientation is reversed to adapt to different installation spaces, then installation flexibility is improved, but the suction temperature sensor position must be changed accordingly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction temperature sensor is made dynamically repositionable between a first position (when heat exchanger unit is in normal orientation) and a second position (when heat exchanger unit is in reversed orientation). This dynamic design enables installation flexibility in various spaces while managing the complexity of sensor repositioning through automated controller control rather than manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically determining the heat exchanger unit's installation orientation and setting the suction temperature sensor's position accordingly, without requiring external intervention or complex manual repositioning procedures. This self-service capability maintains installation flexibility while minimizing the perceived complexity for users.
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
Enables correct installation and operation of the suction temperature sensor, ensuring proper air conditioning control by determining the sensor's position and notifying any incorrect placements.
Implementation Method 1
taken-in indoor air and a refrigerant circulated between the outdoor unit and the duct-type indoor unit are heated or cooled by exchanging heat in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit
Implementation Method 2
indoor air is taken into a housing of the duct-type indoor unit through the suction port by driving the blower fan, and taken-in indoor air and a refrigerant circulated between the outdoor unit and the duct-type indoor unit are heated or cooled by exchanging heat in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit, and are blown into the room through the blowout port by the driving of the blower fan
Implementation Method 3
a drain pan receiving condensed water generated in the heat exchanger is stored
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner of the present embodiment includes a heat exchanger unit in which an installation position of a suction temperature sensor can be changed and the air conditioner is capable of determining whether the installation position of the suction temperature sensor is correct. During a cooling operation, a heat exchange temperature is lower than a suction temperature, and during a heating operation, the heat exchange temperature is higher than the suction temperature. However, if a suction temperature sensor is incorrectly disposed on a downstream side of a flow of air in an indoor heat exchanger, the suction temperature detected by the suction temperature sensor is a temperature of indoor air after exchanging heat with a refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger, so that the heat exchange temperature and the suction temperature are close to each other regardless of the cooling operation or the heating operation.