Air Amplifier Divider Body Tapering for Slot Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air amplifiers for bladeless heating and cooling systems face challenges in achieving improved airflow, high energy efficiency, and low noise while maintaining safety and aesthetics, particularly due to the risk of foreign object ingress and unsightly design when increasing exhaust outlet width.
Innovation Solution
The air amplifier features a divider body within the airflow passageway that tapers towards the exhaust outlet, dividing it into multiple exhaust passageways. This design reduces the risk of foreign object ingress and maintains a low-pressure system for efficient airflow, while also aesthetically blocking the line of sight from the exhaust outlet to the back of the air amplifier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the exhaust outlet slot width is increased to improve airflow and reduce air pressure, then airflow and energy efficiency are improved, but the risk of foreign object ingress increases and aesthetics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust outlet is divided into multiple separate slots instead of a single wide slot. This segmentation maintains the total open area for airflow while reducing the width of individual slots, thereby preventing foreign object ingress while preserving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A divider structure is introduced as an intermediary element within the exhaust outlet assembly. This divider creates multiple narrow passageways that allow airflow to pass through while physically blocking foreign objects from reaching the fan assembly, resolving the contradiction between airflow requirements and safety.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the exhaust outlet slot width is increased to improve airflow, then energy efficiency is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates due to visible internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust outlet is segmented into multiple narrow slots rather than one wide opening. This segmentation maintains the total area for energy-efficient airflow while the dividers obscure the view into the internal components, preserving aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider structure acts as an intermediary that blocks the line of sight to internal components while allowing airflow to pass through. This resolves the contradiction between energy efficiency requirements (needing open areas) and aesthetic requirements (needing obscured views).
3Reliability
If a divider is used to increase the number of exhaust slots, then foreign object ingress is reduced, but the aesthetic appearance does not improve due to clear line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The divider structure is designed with varying properties along its length - it is positioned and dimensioned to provide complete blocking of the line of sight to internal components while maintaining sufficient open area for airflow. This local differentiation of quality resolves both the safety and aesthetic requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from considering only the horizontal slot width to incorporating the vertical positioning and depth of dividers. By utilizing the third dimension (depth/positioning within the housing), the design achieves complete aesthetic obscuration while maintaining airflow performance and safety.
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 effectively enhances airflow, maintains high energy efficiency, and reduces noise while ensuring safety and aesthetic appeal by preventing foreign object ingress and obscuring the internal components from view.
Implementation Method 1
The air amplifiers typically have an annular shape with an aerofoil inner surface. As air from the fan assembly is passed out of the exhaust outlet, air is drawn through the annulus over the aerofoil surface. This enables multiplication of airflow as air passes through the air amplifier.
Data Source
AI summary
An air amplifier for directing airflow from a fan assembly, and a fan assembly including an air amplifier. The air amplifier includes an inlet for receiving airflow from a fan assembly, and an airflow cavity. The airflow cavity includes a first wall and a second wall that define an airflow passageway extending towards an exhaust outlet for emitting air. A divider body is provided within the passageway. The divider body divides the airflow passageway into a first exhaust passageway and a second exhaust passageway. The divider body tapers towards the exhaust outlet.