Aerodynamic device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ventilation devices have limited efficiency due to predetermined dimensions, resulting in a ratio of the tangential fan's impeller diameter to the housing height of 0.4 to 0.45, which restricts the achievable performance and requires a large construction depth, making them unsuitable for underfloor or underfloor facade applications.

Innovation Solution

The tangential fan and heat exchanger are arranged laterally adjacent to each other with a ratio of the impeller diameter to the housing height of ≥0.5, allowing for a higher impeller diameter compared to the housing height, and the heat exchanger is angled to create an air flow chamber that widens towards the impeller, enhancing airflow and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If the heat exchanger is arranged horizontally with a large surface area, then the overall depth is large, but the overall height is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall depthVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger is arranged at an angle (inclined arrangement) rather than purely horizontally or vertically, changing the spatial dimension of heat exchange. This angular arrangement allows the air flow chamber to expand towards the impeller while maintaining both compact height and depth dimensions, resolving the contradiction between overall depth and overall height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the impeller diameter is increased to improve fan performance, then the ratio of impeller diameter to housing height increases, but the housing dimensions are constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefan performanceVSAvoidhousing height
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters by arranging the heat exchanger at an angle, which allows the air flow chamber to expand towards the impeller. This parameter change enables a larger impeller diameter relative to housing height (ratio ≥0.5) without proportionally increasing the overall housing height, thus improving fan performance while constraining housing dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the heat exchanger is arranged at an angle to create an expanding air flow chamber, then the airflow efficiency is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairflow efficiencyVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat exchanger arrangement merges the heat exchange function with the airflow channel formation. The angled heat exchanger structure simultaneously performs heat exchange and defines the expanding air flow chamber geometry, eliminating the need for separate airflow channel components and reducing overall structural complexity despite the improved airflow efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This configuration results in a ventilation device with a small overall depth and high efficiency, enabling its use as an underfloor or underfloor facade unit with improved performance compared to conventional devices, while maintaining a compact footprint.

Implementation Method 1

The drawn-in air passes through a heat exchanger, which is tempered with hot or cold water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

The ventilation device draws in room air from a room by means of the tangential fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVortex flow: Vortex Generator

Data Source

PatentEP2148144B1Aerodynamic device
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 LTG AG
  • EP2148144B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a ventilation device (1), in particular a recirculation device (2), with a housing (9) having an air inlet zone (21) and an air outlet zone (22), in which an impeller (37) provided with a vortex generator (40) having cross-flow fan (24) and a heat exchanger (23) are arranged. It is provided that the tangential fan (24) and heat exchanger (23) are arranged laterally adjacent to one another in such a way that an end face (31) of the heat exchanger (23) is assigned to the tangential fan (24) and that the ratio of the diameter (D) of the impeller (37) of the tangential fan (24) to the height (H) of the housing (9) is ≥ 0.5, preferably ≥ 0.6.