Air Filter with Integrated Sensor for Consistent Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ventilation systems face challenges in maintaining accurate air quality measurement over their service life due to changing internal flow conditions caused by biofilm and dust deposits, leading to inconsistent sensor readings and increased maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
A filter module with a sensor integrated in a specific configuration to ensure that the measured air analysis parameter values remain consistent over 90% of the air flow, with a pressure drop of less than 2500 Pascal and a velocity of 0.1 m/s to 5 m/s, minimizing turbulence and vortex formation, and allowing for exchangeable modules to maintain sensor accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sensors are integrated into ventilation systems, then air quality measurement capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates over time due to changing flow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A flow guide structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the air flow and the sensor. This flow guide redirects and homogenizes the air flow before it reaches the sensor, ensuring that the sensor consistently measures representative air samples regardless of changes in overall system flow conditions. The flow guide acts as a mediator that decouples the sensor from direct exposure to varying turbulent flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a localized measurement zone with controlled flow characteristics. By designing a specific flow guide structure around the sensor, a localized region of homogeneous flow is established that maintains consistent measurement conditions. This local quality control ensures that the sensor operates in a stable flow environment independent of global system changes.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If ventilation systems operate for extended service life, then system durability is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to biofilm and dust deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guide structure serves as a protective intermediary that shields the sensor from direct contact with contaminants. By positioning the sensor within the controlled flow zone created by the flow guide, the sensor is indirectly exposed to air samples without direct contact with dust and biofilm deposits on pipe surfaces, maintaining measurement reliability over extended service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guide structure pre-conditiones the air flow before it reaches the sensor, creating a homogeneous flow pattern in advance. This preliminary action of flow conditioning ensures that even as the system ages and deposits form, the sensor receives pre-homogenized air samples, maintaining consistent measurement reliability throughout the extended service life.
3Loss of energy
If filter body is designed for low pressure drop, then energy efficiency is improved, but sensor measurement accuracy deteriorates due to increased turbulence
Solution Approach 1:
The flow guide structure creates a localized zone of improved flow quality around the sensor. While the overall filter body maintains low pressure drop for energy efficiency, the flow guide locally homogenizes the flow in the measurement zone, ensuring accurate sensor readings without requiring increased energy input across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guide acts as an intermediary that decouples the relationship between low pressure drop and measurement accuracy. It allows the system to maintain low overall pressure drop while simultaneously creating a localized region of homogeneous flow that ensures accurate sensor measurements, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and measurement precision.
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 ensures precise air quality analysis throughout the ventilation system's life by reducing turbulence and maintaining sensor contact with representative air substances, minimizing maintenance, and enabling energy-efficient, continuous measurement with minimal calibration needs.
Implementation Method 1
a filter body (110), which filters the air (101) which is flowing through from air accompanying substances
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a filter module for filtering air of at least a part of a building or air from an exhaust air purification unit of a production process, wherein the filter module has a filter body, which filters the air flowing through from air accompanying substances, and at least one sensor with sensor electronics. The sensor is configured for measuring a value of an analysis parameter for the analysis of at least one of the air accompanying substances and of the air quality of the air. The filter body and the sensor are configured and arranged with respect to one another in the case of an air flow through the filter module, the value of the analysis parameter which is measured with the sensor corresponds to more than 90% of the value of the analysis parameter which is averaged over the entire air flow.