Wall-mount air conditioner and method involving same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single-package, wall-mount air conditioners face inefficiencies in the economizer cooling mode due to mixing of warmer return air with fresh outside air, causing the system to switch to mechanical cooling mode prematurely, leading to increased operational costs.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioner design includes a damper system and conduit configuration that allows for selective control of fresh outside air and return air flow, preventing mixing by redirecting return air outwardly and using a duct to upwardly turn discharged return air, ensuring it does not re-enter and warm the fresh outside air, thus maintaining the economizer cooling mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the economizer unit is positioned in-line with the return air opening between the blower box and condenser compartment, then the air conditioner can operate in economizer cooling mode, but the warmer return air mixes with fresh outside air causing the system to switch to mechanical cooling mode prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioner system is divided into separate air flow paths: a fresh air intake path and a return air discharge path. The return air is segmented away from the fresh air intake by directing it through a separate discharge opening and upstand duct, preventing mixing with fresh outside air while maintaining economizer mode operation
Solution Approach 2:
An upstand duct acts as an intermediary element between the return air discharge opening and the exterior environment. This duct serves as a physical mediator that directs return air away from the fresh air intake area, preventing the harmful mixing effect while allowing both functions to coexist in the same cabinet space
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 allows the air conditioner to operate in the economizer cooling mode for extended periods, reducing operational costs by minimizing the need for mechanical cooling and maintaining efficient ventilation.
Implementation Method 1
a compression refrigeration system positioned within the cabinet and operable to cause cooling of the supply air within the cabinet when the air conditioner is operating in the mechanical cooling mode
Implementation Method 2
a blower within the cabinet for effecting movement of the supply air, the return air, and the fresh outside air within the cabinet
Implementation Method 3
a duct in communication with the return air discharge opening and having an imperforate portion positioned to upwardly turn the outwardly discharged return air
Data Source
AI summary
A single-package, wall-mount air conditioner is provided with an economizer unit having a pair of vertical conduits for delivering fresh outside air to a pair of blowers and a damper system that can be selectively positioned to open and close the conduits. The damper system also opens and closes return air recirculation openings through which return air is delivered to the blowers. When the air conditioner is operating in an economizer cooling mode, the return air recirculation openings are partially or completely closed and some or all of the return air is discharged outwardly and upwardly from the air conditioner in a manner to impede any entrainment of the discharged return air with the fresh outside air that is entering the air conditioner.