Vertical Blow Fan Air Conditioner With Circumferential Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face challenges in achieving uniform flow velocity distribution, high heat-exchange efficiency, minimizing installation space, and facilitating maintenance from both above and below with a simple configuration.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design features a blow fan assembly with a rotating shaft extending vertically, a heat exchanger covering the circumference of the blow fan, and a modular housing structure with detachable components allowing flexible installation and maintenance access, including a drain pan for condensate water collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the heat exchanger is positioned to maximize heat-exchange efficiency, then heat-exchange efficiency is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is configured to extend along the circumference of the blow fan assembly in a radial direction, utilizing the three-dimensional space around the fan rather than occupying linear space. This circumferential arrangement maximizes heat-exchange surface area within the limited installation envelope of the air conditioner unit.
2Ease of repair
If the housing structure is made complex to allow maintenance from both above and below, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first housing portion and a second housing portion that can be selectively coupled to the blow fan assembly. The first housing portion allows maintenance access from above, while the second housing portion allows maintenance access from below. This segmentation enables the air conditioner to be maintained from either direction depending on installation location, without requiring a completely complex multi-directional housing design.
3Length of stationary object
If the blow fan assembly is designed with vertical shaft orientation to reduce installation height, then installation space is reduced, but flow velocity distribution uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is positioned to extend along the circumference of the blow fan assembly, with different sections of the heat exchanger located at different radial distances from the fan. This local variation in heat exchanger positioning creates different flow path lengths and resistance characteristics in different regions, which compensates for the non-uniform flow velocity distribution caused by the vertical shaft orientation, thereby improving overall flow uniformity.
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 ensures uniform air distribution, enhances heat-exchange efficiency, reduces installation height, and simplifies maintenance by allowing access from either direction without additional components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and installation complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger extending along a part of a circumference of the blow fan assembly, and including a bending portion
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger extending along a part of a circumference of the blow fan assembly
Implementation Method 3
a blow fan assembly disposed in the inside of the housing such that a rotating shaft of the blow fan assembly extends in a vertical direction, and configured to inhale air in the vertical direction in which the rotating shaft extends, and discharge the air in a radial direction
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet; an discharge duct connected to the outlet, and configured to guide air discharged from the outlet to an indoor space, a blow fan assembly disposed in the inside of the housing such that a rotating shaft of the blow fan assembly extends in a vertical direction, and configured to inhale air in the vertical direction in which the rotating shaft extends and to discharge the air in a radial direction, and a heat exchanger extending along a part of a circumference of the blow fan assembly, and including a bending portion.