Rotating Dual-Discharge Front Panel for Convection and Radiant Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air conditioners have inefficient space utilization due to the need for upward and downward or forward and rearward installation of indoor units, which affects the distribution and velocity of discharged air, limiting their cooling performance and user satisfaction.

Innovation Solution

An air conditioner design featuring a front panel with multiple discharge parts, including porous and open sections, and a rotation unit that allows for adjustable air discharge through these parts, enabling convection and radiant cooling effects and customizable air direction, using motors to control the rotation angles and guide the movement of the panels for optimal air flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the indoor unit is installed with conventional blowing fan and heat exchanger configuration, then the air can be discharged to indoor space, but the space utilization becomes inefficient due to fixed installation directions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidinstallation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the front panel rotatable around a rotation axis. The rotation unit enables the front panel to change its orientation dynamically, allowing the air conditioner to be installed in various directions (upward, downward, frontward, rearward) while maintaining efficient space utilization. This resolves the contradiction by transforming a static installation structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different installation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If a single discharge panel is used, then the structure is simple, but the air discharge velocity and direction cannot be varied to achieve convection and radiant cooling effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidpanel structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the front panel into multiple independent discharge parts: a first discharge part with discharge holes and a second discharge part with an opening. Each part can be independently controlled by separate rotation units, enabling different air discharge velocities and directions. The first discharge part achieves convection cooling through multiple holes, while the second discharge part provides radiant cooling through a larger opening, thereby improving cooling performance without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by giving different characteristics to different parts of the discharge system. The first discharge part has multiple small holes optimized for convection cooling with higher velocity, while the second discharge part has a larger opening optimized for radiant cooling with lower velocity. Each part is positioned and oriented independently to create localized cooling effects suitable for different spatial requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the front panel is made rotatable with multiple discharge parts, then convection and radiant cooling effects can be achieved with customizable air discharge, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair discharge customizationVSAvoidrotation unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the rotation unit to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The same rotation mechanism enables both the first and second discharge parts to be oriented in different directions, allowing the system to achieve convection cooling, radiant cooling, or a combination of both depending on the operational requirements. This multi-functional design increases versatility while controlling complexity by using a unified rotational mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design enhances cooling performance by varying air velocity and direction, improving user satisfaction through efficient air discharge and customizable airflow options, while maintaining compactness and efficient space utilization.

Implementation Method 1

Since an air conditioner according to one aspect of the present disclosure can discharge heat-exchanged air at different velocities of the air using a porous panel and an open panel, a convection and radiant cooling effect can be implemented.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiant cooling: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11041643B2Air conditioner

Publication Date: 2021.06.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an air conditioner configured to implement a convection and radiant cooling effect using a porous panel and an open panel.An air conditioner comprising a body and a front panel configured to discharge air frontward from the body, wherein the front panel includes a first discharge part formed on at least a part of the front panel and including a plurality of discharge holes formed therein to discharge air a second discharge part formed on at least another part of the front panel and including an opening formed therein to discharge the air; and a rotation unit configured to rotate the front panel so that the air is discharged through at least one of the first discharge part and the second discharge part.