Adsorption Humidifier Airflow Heating and Cooling for Fast Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional humidifiers for vehicles face issues with temperature and humidity responsiveness during switching between desorption and adsorption, leading to discomfort due to slow temperature changes and the direct supply of warm humidified air.
Innovation Solution
A humidifier design that includes a heating part to quickly heat air before desorption, an adsorbing material module to desorb water, and a cooling part to cool humidified air, improving temperature and humidity responsiveness by rapidly changing air temperature and relative humidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the heater directly heats the adsorption element to quickly raise its temperature for desorption, then the temperature responsiveness improves, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium to transfer heat to the adsorption element. Instead of directly heating the adsorption element with a heater, the system heats air and passes it through the adsorption element, allowing indirect heating. This reduces device complexity while maintaining temperature responsiveness, as the heated air serves as the heat transfer medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic flow of air through the adsorption element to achieve heat transfer. By circulating air through the adsorption element during desorption mode, the system leverages fluid dynamics to transfer thermal energy efficiently without requiring direct contact heating mechanisms, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
2Productivity
If the heater directly heats the adsorption element, then the desorption efficiency improves, but warm humidified air is supplied directly to the user causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the heating and humidification processes into separate stages. First, air is heated in a heating section, then this heated air passes through the adsorption element where water is desorbed. Finally, the humidified air is cooled in a cooling section before being supplied to the user. This segmentation allows desorption efficiency to be maintained while preventing direct supply of warm humidified air that causes discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary cooling action to the humidified air before it reaches the user. The cooling section is positioned downstream of the adsorption element, cooling the humidified air in advance before supply. This preliminary action ensures that even though desorption occurs efficiently at high temperature, the user receives comfortably cooled humidified air.
3Quantity of substance
If the adsorption element temperature is increased quickly for desorption, then the humidity responsiveness improves, but the adsorption element takes time to cool down for subsequent adsorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses air as an intermediary for both heating during desorption and cooling during adsorption. During adsorption mode, cooler air is passed through the adsorption element, efficiently removing heat and reducing cooling time. This dual-use of air as a heat transfer medium optimizes both the heating phase and cooling phase, improving overall cycle efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic switching between desorption and adsorption modes. The system alternates between heating the adsorption element (desorption mode) and cooling it (adsorption mode) in regular cycles. This periodic action allows the adsorption element to reach optimal temperatures for each function while maintaining continuous operation, reducing the perceived waiting time for temperature stabilization.
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 solution significantly enhances temperature and humidity responsiveness, providing comfortable and effective humidification and dehumidification by quickly adjusting air conditions, reducing production costs and downsizing the device.
Implementation Method 1
a heating part that heats air, which is supplied to the adsorbing material
Implementation Method 2
an adsorbing material module that includes the adsorbing material and that desorbs water, which is adsorbed in the adsorbing material, to air heated by the heating part
Implementation Method 3
a cooling part that cools air humidified by the adsorbing material module
Data Source
AI summary
A humidifier supplies humidified air, which is humidified by water desorbed from an adsorbing material, to a humidification object space. The humidifier includes: a heating part that heats air, which is supplied to the adsorbing material; an adsorbing material module that includes the adsorbing material and that desorbs water, which is adsorbed in the adsorbing material, to air heated by the heating part; and a cooling part that cools air humidified by the adsorbing material module. At time of desorption to desorb water from the adsorbing material, the adsorbing material module desorbs water from the adsorbing material to air heated by the heating part, and then the cooling part cools the air to be supplied to the humidification object space as the humidified air. At time of adsorption to adsorb water of air into the adsorbing material, the cooling part cools air, and then water is adsorbed into the adsorbing material.