Indoor Air-Conditioner Duct Layout for Uniform Four-Side Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning apparatuses face issues with poor air circulation, high energy consumption, noise, and temperature nonuniformity due to restrictive duct configurations and limited outlet ports, leading to discomfort and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning apparatus with a body casing having outlet ports on all four lateral sides, allowing multiple ducts to be connected to each sidewall through joints, enabling uniform air distribution and reducing ventilation resistance, thus allowing for more outlet units and shorter ducts, which improves air circulation and energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the body casing is disposed in a corner of the room with outlet ports on only one sidewall, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air circulation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The body casing is divided into four sidewalls, each capable of having outlet ports and connecting to ducts independently. This segmentation allows the air conditioning apparatus to be installed in various positions (not just corners) and enables flexible air distribution patterns throughout the room, thereby improving air circulation efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each sidewall of the body casing is designed with universal functionality to accommodate outlet ports and duct connections. This multi-functionality allows any sidewall to serve as an outlet, enabling the apparatus to adapt to different installation locations and room configurations, thus enhancing air circulation efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
2Device complexity
If only a single duct is connected to each body outlet port, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The duct connection system is segmented to allow multiple ducts to connect to each body outlet port through separate connection points. This enables conditioned air to be distributed through multiple pathways simultaneously, improving air distribution uniformity throughout the room while keeping each individual duct connection relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple duct connections are merged at each body outlet port, allowing several ducts to receive conditioned air from a single outlet port. This combining approach ensures uniform air distribution to multiple locations while maintaining a relatively simple overall connection configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the duct length is increased to reach opposite side outlet units, then the outlet units can be positioned farther away, but the ventilation resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air distribution system is segmented into multiple local outlet ports distributed around the body casing. This allows outlet units to be positioned closer to the body casing at various locations, eliminating the need for long ducts and reducing ventilation resistance while maintaining flexible positioning options.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of extending ducts in one dimension to reach distant outlets, the system utilizes multiple dimensions by placing outlet ports on all four sidewalls. This allows outlet units to be positioned in different spatial locations closer to the body casing, reducing duct length and ventilation resistance while maintaining positioning flexibility.
4Manufacturing precision
If outlet ports are formed only on one sidewall of the body casing, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but the temperature uniformity in the room deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet port configuration is segmented across all four sidewalls of the body casing, with each sidewall capable of having outlet ports. This distribution of outlet ports around the entire apparatus enables uniform temperature distribution throughout the room while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing requirements for each individual outlet port.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows asymmetric configuration of outlet ports on different sidewalls, enabling flexible adaptation to various room layouts and installation conditions. This asymmetry capability provides temperature uniformity without requiring high manufacturing precision for symmetric arrangements.
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 enhances air circulation, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes noise, resulting in improved comfortability and energy savings by allowing for more efficient air distribution and reduced duct resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal fan; a fan motor rotatably driving the centrifugal fan
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning apparatus includes a body casing of an indoor unit formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The body casing is formed with a body inlet port on a body bottom, and a body outlet port is formed in each body side. The body casing houses a centrifugal fan, a fan motor rotatably driving the centrifugal fan, and an indoor heat exchanger disposed so as to surround an outer periphery of the centrifugal fan in planar view. In each of the body outlet port, a joint is protrudingly provided with a body-side duct connecting portion that connects a duct thereto. Further, outlet ports are formed. The air-conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of outlet units each protrudingly provided with an outlet-side duct connecting portion that connects the duct thereto. Furthermore, at least one of the joints is formed with a plurality of the body-side duct connecting portions.