Abstract: Precise control of the spatial temperature field is crucial for adjusting the thermal comfort of air conditioner. To investigate the temperature distribution patterns of indoor air conditioner cooling, on-site experiments were conducted in an environmental simulation chamber. By integrating the simulation results of the air flow field distribution, the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the cooling temperature field for a cylindrical air conditioner in a room were obtained. The results indicate that the downward movement of high-velocity cold air is the primary cause of the temperature stratification within the room. Even when the temperature distribution at the air vent of the air conditioner is lower at the bottom and higher at the top, the indoor temperature still increases with the increase in height from the ground. The minimum temperature difference between the upper and lower parts on the same vertical plane can still reach 5.60 ℃. As the cooling duration increases, the indoor temperature gradually decreases, and the cooling rate gradually weakens with the increase in horizontal height. After 60 minutes of cooling, the temperature difference on the upper equidistant horizontal plane can reach 3.04 ℃, while it is only 0.42 ℃ for the lower level. Moreover, the temperature distribution and its variation on the room walls resemble that of the air domain, with the highest temperature and the slowest cooling rate occurring at the ceiling. These findings can provide theoretical support for the optimization design of air conditioner airflow organization and guide related enterprises in developing new energy-efficient and high-thermal-comfort air conditioners.

Key words: Cabinet air conditioner, Room cooling, Temperature distribution characteristics, Spatial and temporal evolution, Temperature stratification