Decentralised ventilation and extraction device and method for decentralised ventilation and air conditioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation and air conditioning systems for buildings require complex installations and are not optimized for easy setup or energy efficiency, particularly in decentralized applications where thermal energy from exhaust air is not effectively utilized.

Innovation Solution

A decentralized air supply and exhaust device with a heat recovery system and a phase transition heat accumulator that stores energy from exhaust air, allowing for efficient energy management and reduced energy costs by using thermal energy from both exhaust and outside air, with optional bypasses for free cooling and temperature regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a centralized ventilation system with heat recovery is installed, then thermal energy from exhaust air can be recovered and used, but the installation becomes complex and requires extensive retrofitting work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal energy recoveryVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ventilation system is divided into decentralized modular units that can be independently installed in individual rooms or zones. Each module contains its own heat recovery and storage components, eliminating the need for complex centralized ductwork while maintaining thermal energy recovery functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat recovery device and heat accumulator are combined into an integrated decentralized unit. This merging of functions into a single compact module simplifies installation by reducing the number of separate components and connections required, while still achieving both thermal energy recovery and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of energy

If a heat recovery device is installed to use thermal energy from exhaust air, then energy efficiency improves, but the system requires complex water circuits and extensive installation infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidwater circuit installation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The water circuit component is extracted and replaced with a direct air-to-air heat exchange mechanism combined with phase change material storage. This eliminates the need for complex water piping infrastructure while maintaining the ability to recover and store thermal energy from exhaust air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical water-based heat transfer system is replaced with a thermal field-based system using phase change materials. The latent heat storage in phase change materials provides thermal energy storage without requiring water circuits, pumps, or complex hydraulic infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of energy

If thermal energy from outside air is stored using a heat accumulator, then energy costs are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy cost reductionVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Phase change materials are used in the heat accumulator to store and release thermal energy during phase transitions (e.g., melting and freezing). This provides efficient thermal energy storage in a compact form factor, reducing energy costs without significantly increasing device complexity compared to traditional sensible heat storage systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

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

Enables easy installation and operation, optimizes energy use by storing and utilizing thermal energy from exhaust air, reducing energy costs and improving air conditioning efficiency with minimal installation requirements, such as no water circuit.

Implementation Method 1

a heat recovery device in which heat exchange can be brought to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

the heat accumulator is a phase transition heat accumulator. The heat accumulator preferably has at least one storage mass. This consists in particular of at least one phase change material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase transition: Phase Change

Implementation Method 3

A panel with an interior space filled with vacuum or latent storage is known from published application DE 10 2005 055 378 A1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLatent heat storage: Latent Heat

Data Source

PatentEP2239522B1Decentralised ventilation and extraction device and method for decentralised ventilation and air conditioning
Publication Date: 2020.05.13 LTG AG
  • EP2239522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2239522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2239522B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The distributed supply and exhaust air device (1) has an inlet conveying device (10) and has an exhaust air conveying device (32) lying in an outlet air path (6). The inlet air path (5) and the outlet air path are brought in heat exchange to each other by a heat recovery device (14), and a heat storage (22) is arranged in the inlet air path. The heat storage is a phase transition heat storage (41). An independent claim is also included for a method for differential ventilating or differential climating a space of a building.