Make-Up Air Assembly with Bypass Intake for Heat-Safe Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning appliances face challenges in providing sufficient make-up air, as previous systems often fail to meet government standards for heat management and can damage components within the housing, especially when ducting air through the housing.
Innovation Solution
A single-package air conditioner unit with a make-up air assembly that includes an intake conduit and secondary air duct, allowing for efficient introduction of outdoor air into the indoor space without compromising heat management or damaging components, by directing air through a plenum outside the housing and using a filter panel to minimize resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If make-up air is ducted through the housing of the air conditioner unit, then air can be supplied to the indoor space, but heat management standards cannot be met and components within the housing may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated make-up air assembly with separate intake and discharge conduits that bypass the housing interior, using the wall structure as an intermediary pathway. This allows make-up air to be supplied to the indoor space without directly ducting air through the housing, thereby avoiding damage to internal components and compliance issues with heat management standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The make-up air system is segmented into distinct components: a separate intake conduit with inlet opening, a discharge conduit with discharge opening, and a filter assembly positioned between them. This segmentation allows the make-up air pathway to be independent from the housing interior, resolving the contradiction between supplying air and protecting components.
2Reliability
If cracks or openings are eliminated to meet fire code requirements, then safety standards are met, but the flow of make-up air becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the building wall structure as an intermediary to create a controlled make-up air pathway. The intake conduit with inlet opening and discharge conduit with discharge opening provide a formal, code-compliant opening that replaces informal cracks or gaps, ensuring both fire code compliance and sufficient air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of air flow by providing a dedicated, controlled pathway with adjustable components (filter assembly, conduit dimensions) that can be optimized for both safety compliance and adequate air flow performance, rather than relying on uncontrolled cracks or openings.
3Productivity
If a filter panel is added to minimize resistance, then air filtration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly is merged into the existing make-up air conduit structure, positioning the filter between the intake and discharge openings without requiring separate housing or complex mounting mechanisms. This integration provides effective filtration while minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter assembly serves multiple functions: it filters the make-up air, structurally connects the intake and discharge conduits, and can be designed for easy maintenance access. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, 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
The solution enables efficient make-up air supply to the indoor space while maintaining compliance with heat management standards and protecting components within the housing, ensuring effective air circulation and filtration.
Implementation Method 1
an outdoor fan operable to move air through the outdoor heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
an indoor fan operable to move air through the indoor heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
an outdoor heat exchanger operable to transfer heat to or from the refrigerant
Implementation Method 4
an indoor heat exchanger operable to transfer heat to or from the refrigerant
Implementation Method 5
a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning appliance or a make-up air (MUA) assembly may include an intake conduit and a secondary air duct. The intake conduit may be attachable to a housing of the air conditioning appliance. The intake conduit may define an intake passage upstream from the indoor inlet. The intake conduit may further define a secondary inlet upstream from the intake passage to permit air thereto. The secondary air duct may extend from the intake conduit outside of the housing upstream from the secondary inlet to direct air thereto.