Air flow control equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current air flow control systems in ventilation and air-conditioning systems are inflexible, costly, and inefficient, requiring multiple dedicated drive units and control mechanisms for each valve, leading to increased energy consumption and acoustic emissions due to high air flow speeds during throttling, and lack effective redistribution of air mass between main and branch air streamlines.

Innovation Solution

The air flow control equipment uses a single common drive unit with multiple redistribution valves, allowing continuous control of exhaust directions through a decentralized control system, integrated with a fan and redistribution mechanism, to manage air flow between the main and branch air streamlines, reducing the need for multiple drive and control elements and minimizing acoustic emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple dedicated drive units and control mechanisms are used for each valve, then air flow control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow control precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple drive units into a single common drive unit that controls multiple redistribution valves through a shared mechanical connection system. This merging approach maintains precise control capability while reducing the number of independent control mechanisms, thereby lowering device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common drive unit is designed with multi-functionality to control multiple redistribution valves simultaneously. This universal control mechanism replaces multiple dedicated drive units, achieving the same control precision with a single versatile component that serves multiple functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated drive units are used for each valve, then air flow control flexibility is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow control flexibilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple drive units into one common drive unit with shared mechanical connections, the system reduces the total energy consumption while maintaining flexibility. The single drive unit operates more efficiently than multiple separate units, controlling all redistribution valves through a unified mechanical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If high air flow speeds are used during throttling, then air flow rate is improved, but acoustic emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow rateVSAvoidacoustic emissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The redistribution valves are designed to dynamically adjust air flow distribution, allowing the system to maintain required air flow rates while reducing throttling speeds. The mechanical connection system enables coordinated valve movement that optimizes flow distribution and minimizes acoustic emissions generated during throttling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If multiple dedicated control mechanisms are used for each valve, then air flow control precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow control precisionVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple dedicated control mechanisms into a single common drive unit with shared mechanical connections, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while preserving control precision. This approach eliminates the need for multiple independent control systems, reducing both component costs and assembly complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4279827A1Air flow control equipment
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 SIMPLY CONTROL SRO
  • EP4279827A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4279827A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4279827A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The air flow control equipment is intended in particular for vacuum air-conditioning and ventilation systems in residential and office buildings, warehouses, and production facilities. The vacuum air-conditioning and ventilation systems usually consist of the central ventilation unit (16) fitted with a fan (17), central control unit, at least one main air streamline (3), at least two air streamlines (2), and at least one connection point (1). The air flow control equipment is then comprised of at least one decentralized control unit (15) arranged in the main air streamline (2), of at least one redistribution mechanism (6) arranged in the connection point (1) and of the fan (17) with pressure-dependent or pressure-independent controllable rotary characteristics that is part of the central ventilation unit (16). All the aforementioned items are connected to the common central control unit that performs the continuous control of the quantity of air exhausted from individual ventilated premises, from individual air streamlines (2) and the building as a whole.