Air Conditioning Louver Edge Segmentation to Reduce Vortex Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Diffusers with fixed louvers and straight tear-off edges generate strong vortices, leading to higher pressure loss and unwanted noise in air flow systems.
Innovation Solution
The device features an outer contour with multiple short, offset projections and depressions, eliminating straight tear-off edges and reducing vortex formation, thereby minimizing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If straight tear-off edges are used on louvers, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but strong vortices are formed leading to higher pressure loss and unwanted noise
Solution Approach 1:
The straight tear-off edge is segmented into multiple short, offset tear-off edges arranged in a wavy or zigzag pattern. This segmentation breaks the continuous vortex formation into smaller, discontinuous vortices that cancel each other out, reducing noise and pressure loss while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The louver edge is given a curved wavy or zigzag contour instead of a straight line. This curvature modifies the flow separation pattern, preventing the formation of large coherent vortices and reducing aerodynamic noise and pressure loss
2Device complexity
If fixed louvers with straight edges are used, then the device complexity is low, but noise levels are high due to strong vortex formation
Solution Approach 1:
The edge is divided into multiple short segments with offset positions, creating a wavy or zigzag pattern. This segmentation approach reduces noise by breaking up vortex coherence while adding minimal complexity to the louver design
Solution Approach 2:
The louver edge features asymmetric wavy or zigzag contours rather than symmetric straight edges. This asymmetry disrupts the flow separation pattern and vortex formation, reducing noise without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms
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 design results in smaller vortices that can cancel each other out, significantly reducing noise levels in air flow systems.
Implementation Method 1
Since such lamellae have a straight tear-off edge, strong vortices are formed, which in turn leads to a higher pressure loss and unwanted noise. Due to the outer contour consisting of projections and depressions, the device according to the invention no longer has a straight tear-off edge. Rather, there are many short tear-off edges arranged offset to one another. This means that only correspondingly small vortices can form, some of which even cancel each other out.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
The device (2) has a planar element with upstream sides and downstream side edges (5, 6) and fixedly arranged in a swirl orifice (1). The planar element is mounted parallel to extension of a plane of the planar element or extension of a portion of the plane of the planar element in the swirl orifice rotated around an oriented axis. One of the downstream side edges includes an outer contour with protruding projections (7) and intermediate recesses (8), where the projections include a wave-shaped course and width at range of 2-4 mm.