Indoor Unit Airflow Layout for Lower Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional indoor air conditioner units with U-shaped heat exchangers face limitations in airflow path sectional area and pressure loss, hindering performance when air is blown out in one direction.
Innovation Solution
The indoor unit configures the heat exchanger to surround the centrifugal fan on three sides, with an air flow path that includes a first region along the casing edge and second regions elongated from the ends, and a tapered clearance between heat exchange parts, increasing the sectional area and reducing pressure loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the heat exchanger is configured with opposite heat exchange parts extending in parallel, then the structure is simple and compact, but the sectional area of the air flow path is limited and pressure loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is designed to extend in the depth direction (third dimension) of the indoor unit by configuring the heat exchanger with specific clearance distances from the casing. This dimensional extension increases the sectional area of the air flow path without increasing the external dimensions of the unit, thereby reducing pressure loss while maintaining a compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger is positioned with different clearance distances from different edges of the casing, creating non-uniform local spaces. Specifically, the heat exchanger is arranged at a first clearance distance from a first edge and a second clearance distance from a second edge, optimizing the local air flow path configuration to maximize sectional area where needed while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If the heat exchanger surrounds the centrifugal fan on three sides, then the airflow path area is increased and pressure loss is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is integrated with the casing structure, where the heat exchanger and casing together define the air flow path. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate air flow path structures, achieving increased airflow path area and reduced pressure loss without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it provides heat exchange functionality and simultaneously defines the air flow path configuration by its positioning relative to the casing edges. This multi-functionality allows the same component to improve airflow performance without adding dedicated structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 airflow path area and reduces pressure loss, leading to improved performance and increased blow-out port area with a simple design.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal fan surrounded by the heat exchanger on three sides
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An indoor unit for an air conditioner includes: a casing main body (1); a turbo fan (30) disposed in the casing main body (1); a heat exchanger (40) disposed in the casing main body (1) such that the turbo fan (30) is surrounded by the heat exchanger (40) on three sides; a partition plate (50) connected to two ends of the heat exchanger (40) to surround the turbo fan (30) in conjunction with the heat exchanger (40); and a blow-out port (10) through which air is blown out downward, the blow-out port (10) being located opposite the partition plate (50) with respect to the heat exchanger (40). An air flow path (P) from the heat exchanger (40) to the blow-out port (10) in the casing main body (1) has, at its downstream side, a sectional shape including a first air flow path region (Aa) extending along an edge of the casing main body (1) and second air flow path regions (Ab) respectively elongated from two ends of the first air flow path region (Aa) toward a second wall (12). The indoor unit for an air conditioner thus enables reduction in pressure loss at the air flow path, which leads to improvement in performance.