Indoor Unit Air Outlet Geometry for Longer Air Throw
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Solution Overview
Problem
The configuration of air-conditioning apparatus indoor units, where the design surface and air-outlet side wall join at a right angle, results in reduced air flow reach in forward, rightward, and leftward directions due to the Coanda effect, affecting user comfort.
Innovation Solution
The air-conditioning apparatus indoor unit features a casing with a forward-facing surface and bottom surface connected at a right angle or obtuse angle, with edge-removed corners at the air outlet, where the forward-facing corner has a smaller edge-removal dimension than the lower corner, optimizing air flow directionality and reachability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the forward-facing panel is connected to the bottom panel at a right angle or obtuse angle, then the air flow directionality is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The casing is segmented into multiple panels with specific geometric relationships. The forward-facing panel is connected to the bottom panel at a right angle or obtuse angle, creating distinct structural zones that guide air flow directionality while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular panel design.
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 flow reachability in all directions, improving user comfort by controlling air directionality and increasing the flow rate in forward, rightward, and leftward directions while maintaining effective air distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger disposed in the casing and exchanging heat with air sucked through the air inlet
Implementation Method 2
causes conditioned air blown through the air outlet to flow along the shapes of corners of the air outlet and spread outward, or rightward and leftward, from the indoor unit due to the Coanda effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a heat exchanger disposed in the casing and exchanging heat with air sucked through the air inlet, an air-sending device causing the air subjected to heat exchange by the heat exchanger to be blown through the air outlet, and a vertical air-directing plate disposed in the air outlet and vertically rotatable to set a vertical air flow direction in which the air subjected to heat exchange by the heat exchanger is blown. The casing has a forward-facing surface defined by a front panel and a bottom surface defined by a bottom panel. The front panel and the bottom panel are connected by a forward-facing panel connected to the bottom panel at a right angle or an obtuse angle. The air outlet extends from the bottom panel to the forward-facing panel and includes a lower corner at which the bottom panel and an air-outlet side wall join together and a forward-facing corner at which the forward-facing panel and the air-outlet side wall join together. The lower corner and the forward-facing corner each have an edge removed to have an edge-removal dimension of the forward-facing corner that is smaller than an edge-removal dimension of the lower corner.