Indoor Air Outlet Geometry for Long-Throw AC Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing indoor units of air conditioning apparatuses face challenges in increasing the blow distance of conditioned air while preventing short-circuiting and minimizing the size of the lower surface, as rectangular air outlets with a longer lengthwise dimension lead to inefficient air distribution and potential short-circuiting when enlarged to improve reach.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit features an air outlet design with a bulging edge towards the air inlet, combined with an airflow direction adjusting member that covers part of the outlet, allowing for increased air flux and maintaining initial speed, while the airflow direction adjusting member helps in blocking airflow back towards the inlet, thus enhancing blow distance and preventing short-circuiting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the length in the width direction of the air outlet is increased to improve the far reach of conditioned air, then the blow distance of conditioned air is improved, but the size of the lower surface of the indoor unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet is designed with a bulging shape toward the air inlet side, creating a curved surface that focuses and directs the airflow. This curvature concentrates the air flux through the center of the outlet, maintaining higher initial speed and extending the blow distance without requiring an increase in the overall width of the air outlet, thus avoiding an increase in the lower surface size of the indoor unit.
2Length of moving object
If the shape of the air outlet is enlarged toward the air inlet side to improve the far reach of conditioned air, then the blow distance of conditioned air is improved, but short-circuiting occurs where conditioned air is sucked back into the air inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow direction adjusting member acts as an intermediary element positioned between the air outlet and air inlet. It has a bulging shape that mirrors the air outlet's curvature, creating a flow-guiding structure that directs conditioned air away from the air inlet region. This intermediary structure prevents short-circuiting by redirecting the airflow path while maintaining the focused air flux needed for long throw distance.
3Area of stationary object
If the air outlet is made rectangular with longer lengthwise dimension to cover wide target space, then the coverage area is improved, but the blow distance of conditioned air is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet employs local quality variation through its bulging shape, concentrating the airflow properties in specific regions. The center portion of the outlet has enhanced air flux and maintained initial speed due to the bulging geometry, while the overall rectangular configuration maintains wide coverage. This local optimization of flow characteristics in the center region achieves long blow distance without sacrificing the wide coverage area provided by the rectangular shape.
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 effectively increases the blow distance of conditioned air while suppressing short-circuiting and maintaining a compact lower surface size, while also directing airflow to reduce ceiling dirtying and ensuring thorough air distribution around the indoor unit.
Implementation Method 1
the blow distance of the conditioned air can be increased by increasing the air flux to make it easier to maintain the initial speed of the conditioned air passing through the neighborhood of the center of the air outlet
Implementation Method 2
it can be made easier to block the airflow heading toward the air inlet from the section of the air outlet on the air inlet side, so that short-circuiting can be suppressed
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus includes an door unit casing and an airflow direction adjusting member. The indoor unit casing has an air inlet and an air outlet with an edge on an air inlet side forming a bulge toward the air inlet. The airflow direction adjusting member covers at least part of the air outlet. The airflow direction adjusting member has an edge on the air inlet side forming a bulge toward the air inlet.