Air Conditioner Burnt Odor Detection and Reproduction Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners often emit offensive odors such as burnt odor due to fungal and bacterial metabolites, but the specific compounds causing these odors are unclear, making it difficult to address the issue effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to identify and reproduce the burnt odor from air conditioners by analyzing gases emitted using techniques like gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and then preparing a burnt odor composition using compounds like hexanal, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, heptanal, and others, which can be applied to various applications where burnt odor is a concern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If fungal and bacterial metabolites are considered as the cause of odor from air conditioner, then the odor problem can be attributed to microorganisms, but the specific type and amount of metabolites produced remain unclear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the odor analysis by separating different odor types (burnt odor, foul odor, foot odor) and analyzing each type's specific compounds individually. This allows clear identification of which metabolites cause which odors, resolving the information loss while managing analysis complexity through systematic categorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as an intermediary tool to bridge the gap between microorganism metabolism and odor perception. This analytical instrument mediates the complex relationship by detecting and identifying specific volatile compounds produced by fungi and bacteria, providing concrete chemical evidence for odor causes.
2Measurement precision
If various offensive odors from air conditioner are analyzed to identify burnt odor compounds, then the specific compounds contributing to burnt odor can be identified, but the analysis process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by focusing the analysis specifically on burnt odor characteristics rather than treating all odors uniformly. By targeting the specific sensory profile of burnt odor, the method identifies relevant compounds (hexanal, heptanal, octanal, decanal, and their esters) more efficiently, improving measurement precision without requiring analysis of all possible odor types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system to optimize detection of burnt odor compounds. By adjusting parameters such as temperature, pressure, and detection sensitivity, the system achieves high precision identification of specific compounds while managing system complexity through parameter optimization rather than adding more hardware.
3Adaptability or versatility
If burnt odor composition is reproduced using identified compounds, then the odor can be artificially recreated for various applications, but the process requires multiple compound synthesis and mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by developing a burnt odor composition that can be applied to multiple scenarios beyond air conditioner maintenance, including vehicle odor control, industrial equipment monitoring, and environmental studies. The composition's versatility is enabled by identifying a core set of compounds that reproduce burnt odor across different sources, allowing one solution to address multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple identified compounds (hexanal, heptanal, octanal, decanal, and their esters) into a single burnt odor composition. By combining these individual volatile compounds in appropriate proportions, the method creates a unified odor profile that can be manufactured relatively easily compared to analyzing and treating each compound separately, thus improving ease of manufacture while maintaining versatility.
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
The method effectively identifies and reproduces the burnt odor, providing insights for improving air conditioner performance and addressing odor issues, and can be used in various environments beyond air conditioners.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing the components of the gas
Implementation Method 2
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Implementation Method 3
mixing two or more compounds selected from a group consisting of hexanal, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, heptanal, octanal, decanal, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, decane, 2-butoxyethanol, ethylbenzene, heptane, 2-methylpentane and n-undecane
Data Source
AI summary
A method that identifies the compounds contributing to a detected burnt odor from an air conditioner artificially reproduces the detected burnt odor, and prepares a corresponding burnt odor composition is provided. Through the analysis method of the present invention, the compounds that contribute to the detected burnt odor from an air conditioner are be identified and quantified. The detected burnt odor is reproduced from a combination of the compounds identified by the analysis method of the present invention. The reproduced burnt odor provides significant data required for development of an apparatus and a method for removing specific odor.