Blower Assembly Recirculation Damper Axial Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blower assemblies suffer from noise and efficiency issues due to air recirculation, which is not effectively addressed by current designs that often require expensive flow straighteners or complex blade profiles.
Innovation Solution
A blower assembly with a recirculation damper positioned between the fan inlet ring and frame assembly to create an axial gap, reducing airflow recirculation by guiding airflow to attach to the damper and prevent eddies, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If flow straighteners are added at the fan inlet, then recirculation is reduced, but manufacturing and installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful recirculating airflow from the system by introducing a recirculation damper that blocks the recirculation path, rather than adding complex flow straighteners. This extracts the harmful element (recirculation) directly while maintaining simple fan blade design.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation damper acts as an intermediary component placed in the airflow path between the fan outlet and inlet. This simple damper structure mediates the airflow to prevent recirculation without requiring complex modifications to the fan blades or inlet structure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If specially designed blade profiles are implemented, then recirculation is reduced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recirculation problem from the blade design itself and addresses it separately through the recirculation damper. This allows the use of simple, standard blade profiles while still eliminating recirculation through the dedicated damper component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the recirculation control function from the fan blade design. Instead of incorporating recirculation control into the blade profiles, it separates this function into a distinct recirculation damper component, simplifying both blade manufacturing and allowing independent optimization of each element.
3Loss of energy
If recirculation is not controlled, then system efficiency decreases, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful recirculating airflow into a beneficial controlled flow pattern. By using the recirculation damper to guide the airflow, the previously harmful recirculation is transformed into a controlled flow that attaches to the damper surface, reducing both energy loss and noise generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation damper serves as an intermediary that transforms the turbulent recirculating flow into a more orderly flow pattern. The damper surface acts as a mediator that the airflow attaches to, converting chaotic recirculation into controlled flow that reduces noise and improves efficiency.
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 reduces recirculation and turbulence, allowing the blower to operate at lower torque and speed, increasing efficiency and decreasing noise levels, while being cost-effective and easier to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
the recirculation damper and the fan inlet ring define an axial gap therebetween to reduce recirculation of an airflow discharged from the fan outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A blower assembly includes a fan assembly configured to rotate about an axis and having a fan inlet ring that at least partially defines a fan inlet and a fan outlet. The blower assembly also includes a frame assembly coupled to the fan assembly and a recirculation damper coupled to the frame assembly. The recirculation damper and the fan inlet ring define an axial gap therebetween to reduce recirculation of an airflow discharged from the fan outlet.