Cold room combination vent and light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief vents in temperature-controlled enclosures, such as walk-in freezers, face issues with ice formation, inadequate air flow control, and increased costs due to the need for multiple valve sizes and orientations, leading to inefficient pressure management and potential safety hazards from ice blockages and valve malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A cold room vent with a housing featuring dual-stage gravity-biased intake and exhaust valves, allowing for adjustable air flow based on pressure levels and orientations, combined with an integrated LED light for anti-icing, enabling efficient pressure equalization and reducing inventory and installation complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large sized vents are used to move large amounts of air for pressure equalization, then pressure relief capacity is improved, but moisture condensation and ice block formation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system is divided into multiple smaller vent ports rather than using a single large vent. This segmentation allows the same total air flow capacity while reducing the velocity and condensation potential at each individual port, thereby reducing ice block formation on valves.
2Ease of operation
If multiple door entries or large sliding doors are used, then access to cold room is improved, but large volumes of warm air enter causing excessive negative pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system uses dynamic pressure-responsive valves that automatically adjust their opening degree based on the pressure differential. When large volumes of warm air enter through multiple doors or large sliding doors creating excessive negative pressure, the valves open wider to allow greater air flow, quickly equalizing the pressure.
3Extent of automation
If gravity-biased valves are used for pressure relief, then automatic operation is improved, but valve fluttering and unnecessary opening occur under wind or door closing
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism incorporates a spring element that acts as a counterweight to the gravitational force on the valve weight. This spring provides additional stabilizing force that prevents valve fluttering and unnecessary opening when subjected to external disturbances such as wind or door closing, while still allowing automatic operation in response to genuine pressure differentials.
4Reliability
If resistive heaters are added to prevent valve icing, then valve reliability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system uses the kinetic energy from the pressure-driven air flow itself to generate heat through friction and turbulence, which naturally prevents ice formation on the valves. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for external resistive heaters, reducing device complexity and energy consumption while maintaining valve reliability.
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 provides effective air flow management, prevents ice formation on valves, ensures safe operation by maintaining neutral pressure, and reduces costs through standardized valve components and combined functionality with lighting.
Implementation Method 1
gravity-biased first pressure intake valve mounted to the first pressure intake port having a first weight which allows the opening of the gravity biased first pressure intake valve at a first air pressure level
Implementation Method 2
combined with an integrated LED light for anti-icing
Data Source
AI summary
A combination light and pressure relief vent is disclosed which includes a housing, a valve assembly, and a light assembly. The housing include a valve body, port tube, and an outside louver. The valve body has a low positive pressure exhaust port, a high positive pressure exhaust port, a low negative pressure intake port, and a high negative pressure intake port. The valve assembly includes a low positive pressure exhaust valve, a high positive pressure exhaust valve, a low negative pressure intake valve, and a high negative pressure intake valve. The light assembly includes a heat sink casing which defines a heat chamber. The casing is coupled to an LED module wherein heat generated by the LED module is transferred through the casing to the heat chamber to warm the valve assembly.