Parallel Fan Air Volume Balancing in Air Conditioners
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners with multiple parallel fan units often experience uneven air volume output due to varying resistance from throttle units, leading to inefficient heat exchange and energy waste.
Innovation Solution
A controller adjusts the rotating speed of each fan unit based on its resistance to balance the air volume output, employing a first and second control mode to ensure equal or approximate air volumes from multiple fan units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple parallel fan units are used to reduce hardware costs and improve maintenance ease, then device complexity and maintenance difficulty are reduced, but uneven air volume output occurs due to varying resistance from throttle units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters (rotating speed) of each fan unit individually to compensate for varying resistance conditions. The controller adjusts the rotating speed of fan units based on their respective resistance values, allowing each fan to output balanced air volumes despite different operating conditions caused by throttle unit positions.
2Ease of operation
If each fan unit is controlled to rotate at the same speed, then control simplicity is maintained, but varying resistance from throttle units causes different air volume output from each fan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the controller receives resistance values from each fan unit (detected via current or voltage signals), compares them, and adjusts the rotating speed of individual fan units accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures balanced air volume output while maintaining relatively simple control architecture.
3Device complexity
If uneven air volume output occurs from multiple fan units, then the control system is simpler, but heat exchange efficiency decreases and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes energy efficiency by dynamically adjusting the rotating speed parameters of fan units based on their resistance conditions. By matching each fan's output to its actual operating conditions, the system achieves balanced air volume distribution across all outlets, maximizing heat exchange efficiency and minimizing energy waste without requiring complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner at least including a controller, a first fan unit, and a second fan unit arranged parallel to the first fan unit is disclosed. The controller performs a parallel operating control procedure, including a first control mode and a second control mode, to the first fan unit and the second fan unit respectively. When operating under the first control mode, the controller adjusts the rotating speed of one of the first fan unit and the second fan unit based on a first standard air volume, so the two fan units output the air volume equal to or approximate to the first standard air volume. When operating under the second control mode, the controller controls the rotating speed of both the first and second fan units according to a second standard air volume, so the two fan units output the same air volume.