Indoor Unit Airflow Switching for Even Cooling Without Direct Drafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor air conditioners with ceiling-mounted units face challenges in distributing air evenly, leading to discomfort due to direct air hits and temperature differences within the space, as increasing wind speed to address this issue can cause discomfort by directly hitting individuals.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates an air current blocking mechanism and a controller to switch between full and partial blowout modes, adjusting wind direction and speed to ensure conditioned air reaches farther areas without direct hits, thereby reducing temperature differences and improving comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the blowing wind speed is increased to allow the flow of blowing air to reach farther areas, then the air temperature difference among parts of the indoor space is reduced, but the blowing air directly hits on a person's body causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by alternating between full blowout mode and partial blowout mode. The controller switches between these modes in cycles, where in partial blowout mode, only certain outlet openings are activated to blow air at high speed toward distant areas, while other outlets remain inactive or blow at lower speeds. This periodic switching prevents continuous direct high-speed air hits on occupants while still achieving far-reaching air distribution to reduce temperature differences across the space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the operation of individual outlet openings. Instead of all outlets operating uniformly, the controller selectively activates specific outlet openings (e.g., outlets 24a and 24c) during partial blowout mode while keeping others (e.g., outlets 24b and 24d) inactive or operating at different speeds. This localized control allows high-speed air delivery to specific distant areas without subjecting all occupied zones to direct high-speed air streams, thereby reducing temperature differences while minimizing discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the blowing wind speed is kept low to avoid direct hits on persons, then comfort is improved, but the blowing air stays only in regions close to the indoor unit increasing air temperature difference
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements periodic action by alternating between full blowout mode (all outlets operating at lower speeds) and partial blowout mode (selective outlets operating at higher speeds). During partial blowout mode, high-speed air is directed toward distant areas to reduce temperature differences, while during full blowout mode, all outlets operate at lower speeds to provide comfortable ambient air distribution. This periodic switching between speed regimes achieves far-reaching air distribution while maintaining comfort during full operation phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the outlet opening configuration dynamic and adjustable. The controller can switch between different operational states (full blowout mode and partial blowout mode), dynamically adjusting which outlets are active and at what speeds. This dynamic control allows the system to adaptively deliver high-speed air to distant areas when needed to reduce temperature differences, while maintaining lower speeds during full operation to ensure comfort, thereby resolving the contradiction between reach and comfort.
Data Source
AI summary
The indoor unit includes a plurality of outlet openings. In airflow rotation of the indoor unit, a full blowout mode and a partial blowout mode are executed. In the full blowout mode, all the outlet openings blow conditioned air. In the partial blowout mode, the flow of the blowing air of part of the outlet openings are blocked by the air current blocking mechanism, and thus the blowing wind speeds of the remaining outlet openings increases. As a result, an air temperature difference among parts of the indoor space decreases, and the comfort of the indoor space is improved.