Fan coil unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fan coil units experience inefficient air flow distribution, leading to non-uniform temperature distribution, which is not adequately addressed by existing designs that use squirrel or axial fans with vanes or deflectors, resulting in suboptimal heating and cooling efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A fan coil unit with a housing featuring three outlet areas arranged beside each other on the top side, where the two outer outlet areas are inclined between 120° and 160° relative to the middle outlet area, equipped with fans blowing air through each outlet area, and an air stream heat exchanger, enhancing air flow distribution and heat emission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional squirrel fans or axial fans with vanes or deflectors are used to distribute air, then air flow distribution is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow distributionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing top side is segmented into three distinct outlet areas (first, second, and third outlet areas) with different inclination angles. This segmentation allows each outlet to direct air flow in optimized directions without requiring complex internal vanes or deflectors, achieving effective air distribution through simple geometric division of the outlet structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from conventional single-plane outlet designs to a three-dimensional configuration where outlet areas are arranged at different inclination angles on the top side of the housing. The first outlet area is inclined at a first angle, the second outlet area at a second angle, and the third outlet area at a third angle, creating spatial diversity in air flow directions without adding mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If air is blown upwards or downwards by conventional fans, then heating or cooling is achieved, but temperature distribution becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distributionVSAvoidheating and cooling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different outlet areas are assigned different inclination angles to create localized air flow patterns. The first outlet area inclined at a first angle, the second at a second angle, and the third at a third angle, each contributing to uniform temperature distribution in different spatial zones. This local differentiation of outlet characteristics ensures comprehensive and uniform thermal coverage throughout the room.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 achieves a more uniform and efficient temperature distribution, improving heating and cooling efficiency by optimizing air flow and heat emission, resulting in faster and more effective heat delivery compared to conventional units.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger fed by a central heating or hot water system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

an electric fan is usually arranged to blow air over the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

the forced convection heating effects which leads to the possibility of working with low flow temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3382287B1Fan coil unit
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC R&D CENTRE EUROPE BV
  • EP3382287B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3382287B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3382287B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a fan coil unit being adapted to be mounted on a vertical wall, the fan coil unit having three outlet areas arranged beside each other on a top side of the housing, wherein a middle outlet area is arranged between two outer outlet areas and wherein the outer outlet areas are inclined by an angle greater than or equal 120° and smaller than or equal 160° with respect to the middle air outlet area, the angle being the smaller angle measured between the respective outer outlet area and the middle outlet area.