Ceiling Indoor Unit Airflow Balancing for Perimeter Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceiling-mounted air conditioners face inefficiencies in heating mode operations due to non-uniform airflow distribution, where heated air rises instead of reaching the perimeter zone, leading to temperature inconsistencies within the room.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner features a ceiling-mounted indoor unit with multiple air outlets capable of horizontal airflow, a load detector to differentiate between heavy and light load areas, and an air volume adjuster that controls airflow direction and volume, ensuring more air is directed to heavy-load areas to reduce temperature differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a ceiling-mounted air conditioner blows air downward to heat the interior zone and supply heated air to the perimeter zone, then the heating function is provided, but the heated air rises instead of reaching the perimeter zone, causing non-uniform temperature distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the airflow direction adjustable rather than fixed. The air outlet is configured to switch between downward blowing mode and horizontal blowing mode, allowing the system to adapt its airflow pattern based on operational requirements. This dynamic adjustment enables heated air to be directed horizontally toward the perimeter zone, preventing it from rising and ensuring uniform temperature distribution while maintaining heating efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air is blown toward the entire perimeter zone, then the perimeter zone is air-conditioned, but any significant non-uniformity in the air-conditioning load in the perimeter zone hampers efficient air conditioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different airflow directions to be directed at different perimeter zones. The air outlet can blow air horizontally in specific directions to target particular areas of the perimeter zone that have higher air-conditioning loads. This localized airflow control ensures that air-conditioning resources are efficiently allocated to areas that need them most, rather than uniformly distributing air to the entire perimeter zone.
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 ensures efficient heating by minimizing temperature differences between heavy and light load areas, enhancing airflow distribution and reducing temperature non-uniformity within the room.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation temperature sensor for measuring radiation temperatures of plural areas with a room
Implementation Method 2
an air volume adjuster configured to perform an air volume adjustment operation such that a smaller volume of air is blown toward the light-load area than toward the heavy-load area
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is an indoor unit including: a load detector (71) for detecting a heavy-load area to bear a relatively heavy air-conditioning load during a heating mode of operation and a light-load area to bear a lighter air-conditioning load than the heavy-load area from a perimeter zone of a space to be air-conditioned (R); and an air volume adjuster (50) for setting the volume of air blown toward the light-load area to be lower than that of air blown toward the heavy-load area in a horizontal blowing mode. This allows the entire room, including the perimeter zone, to be air-conditioned efficiently during the heating mode of operation with temperature non-uniformity reduced in the room.