Portable Air Conditioner Side-Airflow Layout for Thermal Separation
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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 blower fan that directs air upward, a partition wall to prevent air mixing, and a water tank with a draw-out mechanism for improved user convenience and condensate management, along with a scattering prevention system to prevent condensate from being scattered by negative pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If heat exchangers and blowers are disposed front and rear surfaces of a case, then cooling and heating can be performed simultaneously, but the volume increases and the device is not compact
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 dimension of the device, making it more compact and suitable for indoor placement.
2Volume of moving object
If heat exchangers are disposed close together for space efficiency, then volume is reduced, but thermal interference occurs and temperature measurement becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a partition wall as an intermediary structure between the first and second heat exchangers. This partition wall physically separates the air flows, preventing thermal interference between the cooling and heating sections while allowing the heat exchangers to be positioned close together, thus maintaining compact size while ensuring accurate temperature measurement.
3Ease of operation
If moving wheels are installed at the lower portion for mobility, then the device can be moved easily, but the outer appearance is damaged by collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent installs a bumper at the lower portion of the housing, ahead of the moving wheels, to provide beforehand cushioning against collisions. This bumper absorbs impact forces during movement, protecting the outer appearance and structural components from damage while maintaining the ease of mobility provided by the wheels.
4Ease of operation
If a draw-out type water tank is used for condensate storage, then user convenience is improved, but it is difficult to install a water level sensor and causes interference during withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide part as an intermediary structure that facilitates the draw-out motion of the water tank while maintaining proper alignment and spacing. This guide part enables easy user operation for water tank withdrawal and insertion, while simultaneously providing a structured path that allows water level sensors to be installed without interference, thus reducing overall device complexity.
5Productivity
If negative pressure is generated inside the housing for air circulation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but condensate scatters and causes corrosion of other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the negative pressure generated for cooling efficiency by directing it through a structured passage system. The passage is designed to channel the negative pressure flow in a controlled manner, converting the potentially harmful scattering effect into a beneficial directed flow that maintains cooling efficiency while preventing condensate from scattering and corroding other components.
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 temperature measurement, protects the outer appearance during movement, improves user convenience by enabling precise water level detection, and prevents condensate scattering, thus addressing the limitations of integrated type air conditioners.
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 heat exchange chamber so that external air is introduced
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a portable air conditioner. The portable air conditioner includes a housing provided with a heat exchange chamber, a first heat exchanger heat-exchanged with external air introduced through a firs side surface of the housing, a second heat exchanger heat-exchanged with external air introduced through a second side surface of the housing, which is disposed at an opposite to the first side surface of the housing, a first guide part configured to guide the external air, which is heat-exchanged with the first heat exchanger, to a front part of the heat exchange chamber, a second guide part configured to guide the external air, which is heat-exchanged with the second heat exchanger, to a rear part of the heat exchange chamber, 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, and a blower fan provided to pass through the partition wall and configured to discharge the external air, which is guided to each of the front part and the rear part of the heat exchange chamber, upward.