Outdoor Unit Diffuser Layout for Corner Suction Loss Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Side blowing outdoor units for air conditioners face challenges in reducing suction loss and achieving high efficiency and low noise due to fluid resistance in corners where the inlet is not located, limiting the effectiveness of the diffuser's efficiency and noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
The outdoor unit incorporates a diffuser with maximum inclination portions positioned adjacent to corners where suction loss is greatest, allowing the diffuser's inclination angle to change according to the circumferential direction, thereby reducing suction loss and enhancing blowing performance and noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the diffuser has a fixed inclination angle, then the structure is simple, but suction loss occurs in corner areas where fluid resistance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is designed with different inclination angles in different circumferential directions. Specifically, the inclination angle is increased in corner areas where fluid resistance is high, while maintaining a standard angle in other areas. This local differentiation allows the diffuser to adapt to varying flow conditions around the propeller fan, reducing suction loss in high-resistance corner regions without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the inlet is not installed along the entire circumference, then component arrangement is flexible, but fluid resistance in corners increases causing suction loss
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser compensates for the non-uniform inlet arrangement by implementing location-specific inclination angles. In corner regions where the inlet is absent and fluid resistance increases, the diffuser employs a larger inclination angle to facilitate smoother airflow and reduce suction loss. This localized adaptation maintains component arrangement flexibility while mitigating the negative effects of incomplete circumferential inlet coverage.
3Ease of operation
If the fan guide is installed downstream, then flow direction is controlled, but great pressure loss is generated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling flow direction with a fan guide downstream, the diffuser is designed to pre-condition the airflow before it reaches the fan guide. By optimizing the inclination angles in the diffuser, particularly in corner areas, the airflow is smoothly directed toward the outlet, reducing the need for aggressive flow control downstream and thereby minimizing pressure loss while still achieving proper flow direction control.
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 suction loss, improves blowing performance, and achieves low noise by uniformly distributing suction and reducing pressure loss, while also enhancing the stall strength of the propeller fan.
Implementation Method 1
fluid resistance in the corners of the housing becomes great compared to that of the other part, resulting in suction loss of the propeller fan
Implementation Method 2
great pressure loss is generated by a fan guide installed downstream
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an outdoor unit for an air conditioner including a blowing apparatus for reducing suction loss of a propeller fan generated in corners of a housing and achieving high efficiency of blowing and low noise. The blowing apparatus includes a housing including a wall in which an outlet is formed, a propeller fan positioned in the inside of the housing, the propeller fan facing the outlet, and a diffuser positioned at a discharging side of the propeller fan, and forming the outlet, wherein the diffuser includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the propeller fan, and an inclination angle of the inclined surface to the rotation axis of the propeller fan changes according to a circumferential direction of the diffuser.