Indoor Heat Exchanger Layout for Low Air Outlet Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air-conditioning apparatus indoor units face challenges in improving performance without increasing pressure loss at the air outlet, especially when the heat exchanger has a larger number of bent parts, which can lead to reduced blowoff area and increased development time due to the need for redesigning the casing dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit design includes a casing with an air inlet at the top and an air outlet at the bottom, featuring a heat exchanger with multiple bent parts visible from the front, where drain pans are provided below each bent part, allowing for improved airflow and reduced pressure loss without increasing the number of drain pans, thus maintaining performance without increasing the casing thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heat exchanger is modified from a substantial Λ shape to a substantial M shape to increase the volume of air flowing through it, then the heat-exchangeability performance is improved, but the number of bent parts and drain pans increases, reducing the blowoff area at the air outlet and increasing pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions all bent parts of the heat exchanger on the front side of the casing, utilizing the front-facing dimension to display multiple bent parts without increasing the number of drain pans. This dimensional repositioning allows the heat exchanger to maintain an M-shape configuration for improved heat exchange while avoiding the harmful effect of reduced blowoff area and increased pressure loss that would normally result from multiple drain pans blocking the air outlet.
2Reliability
If the number of heat exchangers is increased to improve performance, then the air-conditioning performance is improved, but the dimensions of the casing need to be increased, especially in terms of height and width which are restricted by installation spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heat exchanger into multiple bent parts that are arranged on the front side of the casing. This segmentation allows the heat exchanger to achieve increased heat exchange capacity without requiring an increase in the overall casing dimensions, as the bent parts are distributed across the front surface area rather than requiring additional height or width.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the front-facing dimension of the casing to arrange multiple bent parts of the heat exchanger. By positioning all bent parts on the front side, the design achieves enhanced heat exchange performance without increasing the restricted dimensions of height and width, thereby accommodating installation space constraints.
3Reliability
If the thickness of the casing is changed to accommodate different heat exchanger configurations, then the heat exchanger arrangement can be optimized, but the air passage arrangement needs to be redesigned for every change, leading to a long development period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal casing design where the air passage arrangement remains constant regardless of the heat exchanger configuration. By positioning all bent parts of the heat exchanger on the front side, the design allows different heat exchanger specifications to be accommodated within the same casing structure, eliminating the need to redesign the air passage arrangement for each new heat exchanger model and significantly reducing the development period.
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 the air-conditioning apparatus' performance by maintaining low pressure loss and simplifying the design process, allowing for easier adaptation to varying cooling and heating capacities without extensive redesign, thereby shortening the development period.
Implementation Method 1
an air-sending device provided in the casing and on a downstream side of the air inlet and including an axial-flow fan or a mixed-flow fan
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger provided in the casing and between the air-sending device and the air outlet, the heat exchanger allowing air blown from the air-sending device and refrigerant to exchange heat with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of bent parts where a direction of slope of the heat exchanger changes from an upward direction to a downward direction or from a downward direction to an upward direction. The plurality of bent parts is provided on each of a side of an air inlet and a side of an air outlet. The heat exchanger is provided such that all of the plurality of bent parts is visible when the heat exchanger is seen from a front side of a casing. Drain pans are provided below each of the plurality of bent parts that are on the side of the air outlet.