Portable Air Conditioner Layout for Thermal Isolation and Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated type portable air conditioners face challenges with space efficiency, thermal interference, accurate temperature measurement, damage from movement, and condensate scattering, which affect user convenience and component corrosion.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a housing with separate heat exchangers on opposite sides, a partition wall to prevent air mixing, a blower fan that discharges air upward, and a water tank with a draw-out mechanism for improved user convenience and condensate management, minimizing thermal interference and preventing condensate scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heat exchanger, blower fan, and passage are disposed front and rear surfaces of case, then cooling and heating can be performed simultaneously, but volume increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a front-rear arrangement to a left-right arrangement of heat exchangers on opposite side surfaces of the housing. This dimensional change allows simultaneous cooling and heating functions while reducing the depth (front-rear dimension) of the unit, thereby improving space efficiency without sacrificing functional versatility.
2Volume of moving object
If heat exchangers are disposed close together for compact design, then space efficiency improves, but thermal interference between components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal fields of the two heat exchangers by positioning them on opposite side surfaces of the housing rather than adjacent to each other. This spatial separation removes the thermal interference problem while maintaining a compact overall volume, as the heat exchangers utilize the lateral dimensions of the housing rather than occupying overlapping thermal zones.
3Device complexity
If temperature sensor is placed near heat exchangers for compact design, then device complexity reduces, but accurate temperature measurement of external air becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide part as an intermediary structure that channels external air from the side surface inlet to the temperature sensor. This intermediary passage ensures that the temperature sensor measures the actual external air temperature rather than being influenced by thermal fields from the heat exchangers, thereby maintaining measurement precision while keeping the overall device compact.
4Ease of operation
If moving wheels are installed at lower portion for mobility, then ease of operation improves, but outer appearance is damaged by collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a protective bumper structure at the lower portion of the housing where moving wheels are installed. This bumper acts as a pre-installed protective element that absorbs or deflects collision forces before they can damage the outer appearance or critical components, thereby maintaining ease of mobility while preventing harmful effects.
5Productivity
If water tank is disposed at lower portion for condensate collection, then productivity improves, but user convenience decreases due to interference when withdrawing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the water tank with a movable or removable structure that can be easily withdrawn from the lower portion of the housing. This dynamic design allows the water tank to remain in the optimal position for condensate collection during operation, while also enabling convenient access and removal by users when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
6Productivity
If negative pressure is generated inside housing for air circulation, then productivity improves, but condensate scatters and causes component corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of negative pressure (which causes condensate scattering) into a beneficial outcome by designing a condensate collection system that utilizes the negative pressure to guide condensate flow. The system channels the scattered condensate through designated pathways to a collection reservoir, transforming the potential corrosion problem into an efficient condensate management solution that maintains productive air circulation.
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 space efficiency, allows accurate external air temperature measurement, protects the unit from collisions, and effectively manages condensate without scattering, improving user convenience and reducing component corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger heat-exchanged with external air introduced through a firs side surface of the housing
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger heat-exchanged with external air introduced through a second side surface of the housing
Implementation Method 3
a blower fan configured to generate a negative pressure in the internal space so that the external air is introduced
Implementation Method 4
a partition wall provided between the first guide part and the second guide part to prevent the external air guided to the front part and the rear part of the heat exchange chamber from being mixed with each other
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a portable air conditioner. The portable air conditioner includes a housing having an internal space, a heat exchanger provided in the internal space and heat-exchanged with external air introduced from the outside, a blower fan configured to generate a negative pressure in the internal space so that the external air is introduced, the blower fan allowing the heat-exchanged external air to move upward, a discharge port configured to guide the upwardly guided external air to the outside of the housing, a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the external air, an accommodation part provided inside the housing to accommodate the temperature sensor, and a communication groove configured to allow the accommodation part and the internal space of the housing to communicate with each other so that the external air moves into the internal space of the housing via the accommodation part. moves into the internal space of the housing via the accommodation part.