Indoor unit in air conditioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor units in air conditioners struggle with effectively cleaning the interior surfaces, particularly the filters, which can harbor bacteria and generate odorous components, leading to reduced air quality and potential health issues.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit incorporates a combination of a first filter for coarse dust collection, a second filter for finer dust, an ultraviolet ray irradiator to disinfect the first filter surface, and an activated species generator to enhance cleaning efficiency, while a blocking member and protecting member ensure safe operation and prevent ultraviolet exposure to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If ultraviolet rays are irradiated to clean the filter surface, then bacteria and odorous components are reduced, but ultraviolet rays may expose to users causing safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
A blocking member is introduced as an intermediary element between the ultraviolet light source and the user. This blocking member selectively blocks ultraviolet rays from reaching the user while allowing the ultraviolet rays to irradiate the filter surface for cleaning purposes, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and user safety
Solution Approach 2:
The blocking member is positioned to create different radiation zones: one zone where ultraviolet rays effectively clean the filter surface, and another zone where ultraviolet rays are blocked to protect the user. This spatial differentiation of radiation quality resolves the contradiction by allowing beneficial irradiation while preventing harmful exposure
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a blocking member is added to prevent ultraviolet exposure, then user safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking member is designed to serve multiple functions: it blocks ultraviolet rays from reaching users, provides structural support for the ultraviolet light source, and can be integrated with existing housing components. This multi-functionality reduces the overall device complexity increase while achieving the safety improvement
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 significantly enhances the cleaning capacity of the indoor unit, effectively reducing bacteria and odorous components, thereby improving indoor air quality and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to irradiate an upstream side of the first collecting member in an air flow direction with ultraviolet rays
Implementation Method 2
a fan configured to suck air in the indoor space into the casing via the intake port
Data Source
AI summary
An indoor unit in an air conditioner configured to condition air in an indoor space includes: a casing that includes an intake port opened downward toward the indoor space; a fan configured to suck air in the indoor space into the casing via the intake port; a collector configured to collect dust contained in the air sucked via the intake port; a light source configured to irradiate an upstream side of the collector in an air flow direction with ultraviolet rays; a shield configured to block the ultraviolet rays from the light source toward the intake port; and a protecting member having a mesh shape and covering the intake port at a position upstream of the collector in the air flow direction.