Dehumidifying element, dehumidifying device including dehumidifying element, and method of manufacturing dehumidifying element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dehumidifying elements with adhesive-bonded sheets experience instability in hygroscopic performance due to gaps formed at bonded portions, especially under varying dry and wet conditions, leading to uneven air flow and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A dehumidifying element with sheets having moisture adsorption and desorption properties, where at least some sheets have an irregular shape and are bonded using a hygroscopic agent that acts as a re-moistening-type glue, adhering during moisture adsorption and solidifying during desorption to maintain sheet contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive is used to bond sheets together, then sheets are bonded to each other, but gaps form at bonded portions under varying dry and wet conditions leading to unstable hygroscopic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the bonding mechanism from chemical adhesion to physical bonding through moisture adsorption. The sheets contain hygroscopic agents that adsorb moisture from the air, causing the sheets to swell and bond to each other. This parameter change (from chemical to physical bonding) allows the bonding strength to adapt to humidity changes, preventing gap formation while maintaining reliable hygroscopic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheets bond to each other using their own hygroscopic properties rather than requiring external adhesive. The hygroscopic agents within the sheets adsorb moisture and generate swelling pressure that creates the bonding force. This self-service mechanism ensures the bonding adapts naturally to environmental humidity changes, eliminating the reliability issues associated with fixed adhesive bonds.
2Strength
If sheets are bonded with adhesive, then bonding is achieved, but air flows unevenly through areas with gaps causing unstable hygroscopic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The bonding mechanism changes from fixed chemical adhesion to dynamic physical bonding through moisture adsorption. As humidity changes, the hygroscopic agents adsorb or desorb moisture, causing the sheets to swell or shrink and maintain continuous contact. This parameter change ensures uniform bonding across all sheet interfaces, preventing air flow unevenness and maintaining stable hygroscopic performance.
3Productivity
If contact portions between sheets are reduced to increase moisture adsorption effective area, then moisture adsorption performance improves, but gaps form more easily at unbonded portions under repeated expansion and contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The entire surface of each sheet serves dual functions: it provides moisture adsorption area and simultaneously provides bonding area with adjacent sheets. The hygroscopic agents distributed throughout the sheet material enable every contact portion to bond, eliminating the need to choose between adsorption area and bonding area. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the bonding mechanism universal across the entire sheet surface.
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
This configuration reduces the formation of gaps between sheets, ensuring stable hygroscopic performance and durability by allowing sheets to move slightly and absorb stress from expansion and contraction, while maintaining strong bonding and efficient air flow.
Implementation Method 1
The sheets each contain a hygroscopic agent having properties of a re-moistening-type glue that exhibits adherence when adsorbing moisture
Implementation Method 2
the hygroscopic agent exhibits adherence to keep the sheets bonded to each other when adsorbing moisture, and then contracts while keeping the sheets bonded to each other when desorbing moisture
Data Source
AI summary
A dehumidifying element includes a plurality of sheets that have moisture adsorption and desorption properties and that are stacked on top of each another. At least some of the sheets each have an irregular shape. The sheets each contain a hygroscopic agent having properties of a re-moistening-type glue that exhibits adherence when adsorbing moisture and that solidifies when being dried. The sheets are bonded to each other by the hygroscopic agent.