Air conditioning unit

An air conditioning unit, comprising:

• a main body including an air inlet and an air outlet, the main body defining an airflow passage between the air inlet and the air outlet;
• a fan disposed within the airflow passage;
• and
• a thermal element disposed within the airflow passage upstream of the fan,
• wherein the main body has a first face on which the air outlet is disposed,
• wherein the air inlet and thermal element are disposed at the periphery of the first face,
• wherein the fan is oriented such that the rotational axis of the fan is substantially perpendicular to the first face,
• wherein the first face is adapted so as to be exposed, in use, to a temperature-controlled space, and
• wherein the blades of the fan are arranged so that the air conditioning unit provides a swirling air flow pattern with the air discharged straight from the tips of the fan blades into the temperature controlled space in a pattern that spreads out in a circular flow;
• and
• wherein the air inlet and thermal element extend along at least 50% of the periphery of the first face;
• and
• wherein the air outlet and the airflow passage are arranged such that, in use, the airflow velocity through the airflow passage at the thermal element is less than 50% of the airflow velocity through the airflow passage at an output of the fan,
• wherein the thermal element is mounted to a first housing portion of the main body and the fan is mounted to a second housing portion of the main body, the second housing portion being hinged with respect to the first housing portion,
• wherein the second housing portion is rotatable via the hinge with respect to the first housing portion from a first position to a second position, and
• wherein the fan is operable for normal use in the first position and is accessible for maintenance in the second position.