Indoor Air Conditioner Unit With Parallel Heat Exchangers for Uniform Heating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with multi-directional air supply units operating in supercritical refrigeration cycles face temperature variations of supply air depending on location due to uneven refrigerant temperature distribution across the heat exchanger, leading to inconsistent heating performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates parallel-connected refrigerant flow paths with opposite flow directions at each end of the heat exchange region, ensuring high-temperature refrigerant flows at both ends during heating, reducing temperature differences between air outlets and enhancing uniformity of air supply temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the refrigerant flow path traverses back and forth once between one end and the other end of the heat exchanger, then the refrigerant flow path length is reduced, but the temperature distribution of refrigerant becomes uneven across the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is divided into multiple independent heat exchange sections (first heat exchange section and second heat exchange section) with refrigerant flow paths arranged in parallel. Each section handles a portion of the refrigerant flow, allowing temperature distribution to be balanced across sections while keeping individual path lengths short.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heat exchange sections are configured with opposite refrigerant flow directions relative to the heat exchanger perimeter. This creates local temperature distribution optimization where high-temperature refrigerant flows at both ends of the heat exchanger during heating operation, ensuring uniform air temperature at different outlets.
2Volume of moving object
If the heat exchanger is formed by bending to surround the fan, then the air supply structure is compact, but the refrigerant flow path length increases when traversing back and forth multiple times
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow path is segmented into parallel sections that traverse the heat exchanger once in opposite directions. This segmentation allows the bent heat exchanger configuration to maintain compactness while avoiding the need for multiple back-and-forth traversals that would excessively lengthen the refrigerant path.
3Device complexity
If refrigerant flows through the heat exchanger in a single direction, then the flow path is simple, but large temperature differences occur between inner and outer sides of the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerant flow direction in the second heat exchange section is inverted relative to the first heat exchange section. While the first section has refrigerant flowing from one end to the other, the second section has refrigerant flowing from the other end to the first end, creating opposite flow directions that balance temperature distribution across the heat exchanger perimeter.
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 reduces temperature variations of supply air across different outlets, improving comfort by maintaining consistent air temperatures and increasing the efficiency of the air conditioning system.
Implementation Method 1
the heat exchanger is a cross-fin-and-tube heat exchanger... air radially blown out of the fan passes through the heat exchanger surrounding the fan
Implementation Method 2
air radially blown out of the fan passes through the heat exchanger surrounding the fan. Then, the air temperature-conditioned during passage through the heat exchanger is supplied through the air outlets to the room
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An indoor unit for a multi-directional air supply air conditioner capable of performing at least a heating operation includes: an indoor fan (39) for sucking air in an axial direction thereof and radially blowing out the air; and a heat exchange part (38), connected in a refrigerant circuit (80) and disposed to surround the indoor fan (39), for exchanging heat between the air blown out of the indoor fan (39) and refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (80). The heat exchange part (38) includes a plurality of heat exchangers (48) separated from each other along the direction of the perimeter thereof and connected in parallel with each other in the refrigerant circuit (80).