Active airflow inhibiting apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic sliding doors in retail spaces often allow direct airflow through due to simultaneous opening, leading to unpleasant draughts and increased HVAC energy consumption, while air curtains fail to prevent airflow under pressure differentials or windy conditions.
Innovation Solution
An active airflow inhibiting apparatus with a structure featuring plenum chambers, fans, and outlet slots, controlled by a controller, generates opposing air jets to create a differential pressure that inhibits airflow through entrances, using a Coandǎ surface to guide air flow and adjust fan speed based on wind and temperature conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic sliding doors are used to control entrance access, then security and access control are improved, but direct airflow paths are created when doors open simultaneously leading to draughts and increased HVAC energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate airflow control apparatus positioned between the exterior environment and the building interior. This apparatus uses fans to generate controlled airflows that act as a mediator, preventing direct airflow paths through the entrance while maintaining access control functionality. The system creates a buffer zone of controlled air movement that blocks draughts without requiring physical door barriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using fans to generate and control airflows. The system utilizes pressure differentials and directed air currents to create an invisible barrier that prevents unwanted airflow infiltration. The fans generate controlled pneumatic forces that counteract external wind pressures and temperature-driven airflow, thereby reducing HVAC energy consumption while maintaining access control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If air curtains are used to prevent airflow through the doorway, then draughts are reduced, but they fail to prevent infiltration under large pressure differentials or windy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic airflow control system that actively adjusts fan speeds and airflow directions in response to varying external conditions. Unlike static air curtains, the system continuously adapts to changing wind conditions and pressure differentials by modifying the magnitude and direction of generated airflows. This dynamic response ensures reliable airflow prevention under varying environmental conditions including high wind speeds and large pressure differentials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as fan speed, airflow direction, and pressure differential to maintain effective airflow prevention. The system monitors external conditions and adjusts these parameters in real-time to counteract varying wind forces and pressure differentials. By dynamically altering these parameters, the system maintains its effectiveness in preventing airflow infiltration under conditions where conventional air curtains fail.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If over door heaters are used to mask incoming draughts, then customer comfort is improved, but large amounts of energy are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal approach (over door heaters) with a mechanical airflow control approach. Instead of using heat to mask draughts, the system uses fans to generate controlled airflows that actively prevent unwanted airflow infiltration. This substitution of mechanical airflow control for thermal masking reduces energy consumption while maintaining or improving customer comfort, as it addresses the root cause of draughts rather than merely masking the symptom.
4Ease of operation
If doors are kept open throughout working hours to minimize reduction in customer entry, then customer access is improved, but substantial energy costs result from passage of heated or cooled air out of the building
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate controlled airflow system that allows doors to remain open for customer access while preventing energy loss. The fans generate controlled airflows that act as a mediator between the interior conditioned space and the exterior environment, creating a buffer that prevents direct airflow paths. This enables the door to remain physically open for ease of access while the pneumatic barrier prevents substantial energy costs from heated or cooled air escaping.
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
Effectively prevents airflow through entrances, improving customer experience and reducing HVAC energy consumption by creating a controlled air environment without physical obstructions.
Implementation Method 1
The structure may comprise a Coandǎ surface and the first and second outlet slots may be spaced from one another along the Coandǎ surface. The Coandǎ surface may be configured to guide the jet of air from the second outlet slot along its length past the first outlet slot and towards the entranceway.
Data Source
AI summary
An active airflow inhibiting apparatus for an entranceway comprises: a structure positioned adjacent an entranceway of a building and defines a passage therethrough for accessing the entranceway. The structure defines at least one plenum chamber and first and second outlet slots fluidically coupled to the plenum chamber. A fan fluidically connected to the plenum chamber supplies an airflow to the plenum chamber in order to selectively form a jet of air from the first outlet slot in a first mode of operation and from the second outlet slot in a second mode of operation The first and second outlet slots are configured so that the respective jets of air are each directed towards a centre of the structure, with the jet of air from the first outlet slot being directed away from the entranceway and the jet of air from the second outlet slot being directed towards the entranceway.