Experimental visualization of the flow characteristics of the outflow of a split air conditioner indoor unit by meshed infrared thermography and stereo particle image velocimetry

Three-dimensional (3D) flow structures due to the interaction between the device edges, fan casing and cross flow fan (CFF) in the rectangular jet at the outflow of a split air conditioner (SAC) indoor unit were investigated by the stereo particle image velocimetry (SPIV) method. In addition, a novel application of infrared thermography called meshed infrared thermography (MIT), used to determine and visualize the temperature profile in an air flow field, was introduced for the first time and used to investigate the temperature distribution at the outflow section of the SAC indoor unit. The results of measurements that were made at different positions on the device were used to prepare three-dimensional reconstruc- tions of the rectangular jet flow and temperature distribution at the outlet section.