Backdraft damper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backdraft dampers introduce flow obstructions and geometry transitions, leading to increased noise emissions, pressure losses, and reduced airflow performance in ventilation systems.
Innovation Solution
A backdraft damper assembly with a main body, two hingedly connected doors, and concealed hinge assemblies, designed to transition between open and closed configurations in response to fluid flow, minimizing obstruction within the fluid flow path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backdraft damper is introduced to seal or reduce airflow leakage path, then backdraft prevention is improved, but flow obstruction and geometry transitions increase noise emissions and pressure losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved surfaces and smooth transitions in the damper door geometry and inlet/outlet connection flanges to eliminate sharp edges and corners. This curvature design reduces turbulence and vortex formation, thereby decreasing noise emissions while maintaining effective backdraft prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful flow obstruction into a beneficial streamlined structure. By designing smooth transitions and curved surfaces, the obstruction becomes aerodynamically efficient, reducing pressure losses and noise while maintaining the sealing function against backdraft.
2Reliability
If a backdraft damper is introduced to seal or reduce airflow leakage path, then backdraft prevention is improved, but static and dynamic pressures losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surfaces and smooth transitions in the damper design reduce flow separation and turbulence, minimizing energy losses due to chaotic flow patterns. This maintains pressure efficiency while achieving effective backdraft sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper door geometry is designed to adapt to flow conditions, with smooth transitions that reduce dynamic pressure losses during operation while maintaining static sealing effectiveness.
3Reliability
If a backdraft damper is introduced to seal or reduce airflow leakage path, then backdraft prevention is improved, but airflow is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The streamlined curved geometry reduces flow resistance and turbulence, allowing maximum airflow through the damper when in the open position while maintaining sealing capability when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper design optimizes geometric parameters such as curvature radius, transition angles, and surface profiles to minimize flow resistance during normal operation while ensuring effective sealing when closed, thus maintaining productivity.
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 damper assembly effectively prevents fluid flow when closed, reduces noise and pressure losses, and maintains minimal flow resistance when open, enhancing airflow performance and noise attenuation in ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
transitionable between an open configuration in which the first door and the second door are not in contact with each other and a closed configuration in which the first door and the second door are at least partially in contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A backdraft damper assembly is shown and described herein. In one embodiment, a damper assembly comprises: a main body, the main body having an inner surface defining throat, the throat defining an axial fluid flow path; a first door, the first door being hingedly connected within the main body; and a second door, the second door being hingedly connected within the main body, the damper assembly being transitionable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, at least a portion of each of the first door and the second door being received within a portion of the inner surface of the main body when the damper assembly is in the open configuration, such that the first door and the second door are not within the axial fluid flow path.