Passenger Cabin Air Barrier Ventilation Between Seat Rows

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passenger transport vehicle ventilation systems are insufficient in limiting the airborne spread of contaminants like viruses and fine particles, as they promote longitudinal air diffusion, exposing multiple rows of passengers to contaminants emitted within the vehicle, and individual active ventilation systems are expensive and energy-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising multiple air nozzles that project air flows in different directions to create an air barrier between two rows of seats, directing air jets parallel to the vehicle's main direction, which limits contaminant propagation, combined with an air blocking device to optimize airflow and filtration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mechanical or chemical filter ventilation system is installed to filter and renew air, then air circulation is improved, but longitudinal diffusion of air promotes contaminant propagation exposing multiple rows of passengers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair filtration effectivenessVSAvoidcontaminant spread
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation system is segmented into multiple independent air nozzles distributed along the vehicle, each projecting air jets in specific directions to create localized air barriers between passenger rows, preventing longitudinal contaminant propagation while maintaining overall air circulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the vehicle have different airflow characteristics - air nozzles positioned to create high-velocity jets in specific zones to form protective air barriers where contaminants are most likely to spread, while other areas maintain normal ventilation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If individual active ventilation systems with fan and filter are installed for each passenger, then contaminant protection is improved, but system cost and energy consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant exposureVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple air nozzles are merged into a single coordinated system that uses the vehicle's existing ventilation infrastructure, combining the benefits of localized protection with centralized control to reduce both cost and energy consumption compared to individual systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle's existing ventilation system to provide the air flow, eliminating the need for separate fans and power sources at each passenger location, thereby reducing energy consumption and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If air nozzles project air jets in different directions to form air barrier, then contaminant spread is limited, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant propagationVSAvoidair barrier device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Air nozzles are positioned asymmetrically and oriented at different angles relative to the vehicle axis, creating effective air barriers that adapt to the specific geometry of passenger seating arrangements and contaminant spread patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Effectively reduces the spread of contaminants between passengers by forming an air barrier and additional filtration, while being economical and energy-efficient, reducing exposure to airborne pathogens and particles.

Implementation Method 1

each air nozzle being adapted to project a portion of the air flow generated by the aeration and ventilation system into an air jet oriented in an outlet direction of said air nozzle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir jet: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP4321408A1Passenger transport vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 ALSTOM HOLDINGS SA
  • EP4321408A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321408A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321408A1 patent drawing

AI summary

This invention relates to a passenger transport vehicle (10) comprising: - an airflow and ventilation system (12) adapted to generate an airflow (F); - two rows of seats, each row extending in a principal direction; and - an air barrier creation device (16) to limit the spread of contaminants between the passengers of the vehicle (10). The air barrier creation device (16) comprises at least two air nozzles (28), each air nozzle (28) being adapted to project a portion of the airflow (F) in an air jet directed (30) along an outlet direction (32) of said air nozzle (28). The directed air jets (30) together form an air barrier (34) extending between the two rows of seats, and the outlet directions of the air nozzles each extend parallel to the principal direction.