Air exchange device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional air exchange devices compromise structural strength and surface area by requiring dual holes in the divider, expose fans to external damage, generate noise, and necessitate additional cooling systems due to heat generation by control modules.

Innovation Solution

An air exchange device with an air-guiding tube and partition inside the tube, allowing airflow through a single hole, incorporating sound-insulating materials, and using auxiliary fans and circuits to manage heat and noise within the tube, maintaining structural integrity and reducing noise pollution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If two through holes are drilled in the wall for air exchange, then air convection performance is improved, but structural strength of the wall decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair convection performanceVSAvoidstructural strength of the wall
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The air exchange device is segmented into an air-guiding tube with separate first and second air-guiding spaces, allowing air intake and exhaust functions to be divided into distinct pathways. This segmentation enables the device to achieve dual-hole functionality through a single hole installation, maintaining wall structural strength while preserving air convection performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If two through holes are drilled in the wall for air exchange, then air convection performance is improved, but the usable surface area of the wall decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair convection performanceVSAvoidusable surface area of the wall
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The device merges the functions of two separate through holes (air intake and exhaust) into a single integrated air-guiding tube structure. By combining multiple air exchange pathways within one tube, the device reduces the number of wall openings required from two to one, thereby preserving more usable wall surface area while maintaining effective air convection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If fans are exposed to the external space through inlet or outlet, then air exchange function is improved, but fan lifetime decreases due to heat and humidity damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair exchange functionVSAvoidfan lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The air-guiding tube serves as an intermediary structure that allows fans to exchange air with the external environment while remaining protected from direct exposure to external heat and humidity. The tube acts as a protective barrier, enabling the fans to perform their air exchange function without being damaged by adverse external conditions, thus extending fan lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If control modules are added to drive fans, then air guidance control is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair guidance controlVSAvoidcooling system requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control modules are installed within the air-guiding tube where they utilize the existing airflow for self-cooling. The fans generate airflow that naturally passes through the control module housing, providing passive cooling without requiring additional active cooling systems. This self-service cooling approach simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective control over air guidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

5Ease of manufacture

If fans are simply connected to the wall without sound-insulating design, then installation simplicity is improved, but noise pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidnoise pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fans and control modules are nested within the air-guiding tube structure, which serves as a sound-insulating enclosure. This nested configuration allows the device to maintain simple installation (connecting only one hole to the wall) while the tube structure itself provides sound insulation, preventing fan operational noise from transmitting to the external environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 maintains structural strength, reduces noise pollution, and eliminates the need for additional cooling systems, enhancing air convection efficiency and extending device lifespan while minimizing external exposure and cost.

Implementation Method 1

a layer of sound-insulating material is applied to an inner surface of the air-guiding tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

a fan 3 settled inside the air-guiding tube 1... the fan 3 is adapted to generate airflow... air in the external space enters the internal space via the inlet 911, and air in the internal space is expelled via the outlet 912

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2853831B1Air exchange device
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 SUNONWEALTH ELECTRIC MACHINE IND CO LTD
  • EP2853831B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2853831B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2853831B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An air exchange device includes: an air-guiding tube (1) having a first end (11) and a second end (12) opposite to the first end (11), the first end (11) having a first inlet (111) and a first outlet (112), and the second end (12) having a second inlet (121) and a second outlet (122); a partition (2) settled inside the air-guiding tube (1) and dividing a room inside the air-guiding tube (1) into a first air-guiding space (21) and a second air-guiding space (22), the first air-guiding space (21) communicating with the first inlet (111) and second outlet (122), and the second air-guiding space (22) communicating with the first outlet (112) and the second inlet (121); a fan (3) arranged with the air-guiding tube (1) and adapted to induce an airflow; and a control module (4) connecting with at least one of the first and second ends (11, 12) of the air-guiding tube (1) and electrically connecting with the fan (3).