Air conditioner and indoor unit of the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing air conditioner designs suffer from increased power consumption due to air inflow into the space where the heat exchanger is cut, leading to pressure loss and energy wastage, which is not adequately addressed by simply uniformizing pressure distribution with a rectification member.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a current plate with a second face protruded in the opposite direction to the airflow at the heat exchanger, which redirects air flow effectively into the heat exchanger, reducing energy loss and promoting heat exchange, thereby reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a rectification member is provided to uniformize pressure distribution in the cut space, then pressure distribution is improved, but air inflow into the cut space is not sufficiently suppressed leading to continued energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure distributionVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and blocks the harmful air inflow into the cut space using a current plate with a protruding second face. By placing this plate at the final portion of the heat exchanger, it actively prevents air from entering the cut space where the heat exchanger is removed, thereby eliminating the source of energy loss rather than merely uniformizing pressure distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The current plate acts as an intermediary element between the centrifugal fan and the cut space. The protruding second face of the current plate redirects the airflow produced by the centrifugal fan, serving as a mediator that guides air through the heat exchanger while preventing it from entering the cut space, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure uniformization and energy loss prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stress or pressure

If air flows into the cut space of the heat exchanger, then pressure distribution is uniformized, but power consumption increases due to energy wastage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure distributionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of air inflow into the cut space by using the current plate to redirect this airflow. The protruding second face of the current plate takes the air flow that would otherwise enter the cut space and redirects it through the heat exchanger, transforming a harmful phenomenon into a beneficial one that improves heat exchange efficiency while reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If the heat exchanger is cut to accommodate the centrifugal fan, then the centrifugal fan can be installed, but air flow is disrupted causing energy loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentrifugal fan installationVSAvoidenergy loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The current plate serves as an intermediary component that reconciles the conflict between heat exchanger configuration and centrifugal fan installation. By placing the current plate at the final portion of the heat exchanger with its protruding second face, it mediates the airflow between the centrifugal fan and the cut space, ensuring that the fan can be installed while preventing energy loss from disrupted air flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 heat exchange efficiency by minimizing air inflow into the cut space, reducing power consumption and noise production, while maintaining the operational characteristics of the centrifugal fan.

Implementation Method 1

A current plate is provided at a final portion of the heat exchanger in the direction of the rotation of the centrifugal fan. The current plate includes a first face which is extended in a height direction of the heat exchanger and blocks an air flow produced between the centrifugal fan and the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow redirection:

Implementation Method 2

a heat exchanger arranged so as to surround the centrifugal fan, in which the heat exchanger includes an area cut in a direction of rotation of the centrifugal fan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS10274209B2Air conditioner and indoor unit of the same

Publication Date: 2019.04.30 HITACHI JOHNSON CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONING INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an indoor unit of an air conditioner includes a housing, a centrifugal fan arranged inside the housing, and a heat exchanger arranged so as to surround the centrifugal fan, in which the heat exchanger includes an area cut in a direction of rotation of the centrifugal fan. A current plate provided at a final portion of the heat exchanger in the direction of the rotation of the centrifugal fan includes a first face which is extended in a height direction of the heat exchanger and blocks an air flow produced between the centrifugal fan and the heat exchanger and a second face protruded from the first face in a direction opposite the air flow. The indoor unit has an advantageous effect to suppress an inflow of air to a space where the heat exchanger is cut in the indoor unit to reduce the power consumption.