Device for generating an air wall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air wall devices for thermal separation between cold and warm spaces are ineffective in preventing misting and icing, and fail to achieve complete sealing, especially when bridging significant temperature differences, leading to hazardous situations and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The device generates a primary air stream with two secondary air streams, all moving at high speeds with specific temperature and humidity conditions, creating a 'stiff' air wall that minimizes mixing and prevents condensation or icing, while maintaining high heat resistance and efficiency through a carefully designed blower and suction system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional air wall device is used for thermal separation, then the passage opening can be sealed to some extent, but misting and icing occur and complete sealing is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the velocity parameter of the air stream to at least 15 m/s, which is significantly higher than conventional air wall devices. This high velocity creates a more stable and effective air barrier that prevents misting and icing while achieving complete sealing of the passage opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The air wall is segmented into a primary air stream and two secondary air streams flowing in the same direction. This segmentation allows for better control of the air flow characteristics and enhances the overall sealing effectiveness while preventing harmful condensation phenomena.
2Reliability
If the air stream velocity is increased to improve sealing, then thermal separation effectiveness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary air streams act as intermediaries that assist the primary air stream in maintaining thermal separation. By introducing these additional air streams with specific temperature and humidity characteristics, the system achieves better thermal separation effectiveness without requiring excessive velocity from the primary stream, thus optimizing energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the air wall is made thinner to reduce obstruction for vehicles, then passage accessibility improves, but sealing effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The high velocity of the primary air stream (at least 15 m/s) creates a preliminary anti-action that prevents the air wall from being easily disrupted by pressure differences or wind loads. This allows the air wall to maintain its sealing effectiveness even when made thinner to accommodate vehicle passage, as the high momentum of the air stream resists displacement.
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 effectively seals the passage opening, reduces misting and icing, and maintains high thermal efficiency by ensuring negligible mixing between air streams, allowing for effective separation across large temperature differences with reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a primary blower unit positioned on one side of the passage opening and having primary blower fan means and a primary blower slit which connects thereto... for generating an at least more or less flat primary air stream directed at least roughly toward the opposite side of the passage opening
Implementation Method 2
the speed of the air in the primary air stream amounts to at least 15 m/s... such that negligible mixing occurs between the primary air stream Sp and the two secondary air streams Ss1 and Ss2
Implementation Method 3
Ts1=the temperature of the secondary air stream on the side of the relatively cold space, AVs1=the absolute humidity of the air of the secondary air stream on the side of the relatively cold space... such that condensation (misting and vaporization) and/or sublimation (icing) is prevented
Data Source
AI summary
A device for generating an air wall comprises a primary blower slit for generating a flat primary air stream in a passage opening mutually separating two spaces with different temperatures. Two adjacent air streams with the same direction and speed are added to the primary air stream. The primary air stream has a temperature between those of the secondary air streams. The absolute humidity of the air of the primary air stream is at least equal to that of the cold secondary air stream and lower than that of the warm secondary air stream. The air speed of the primary air stream amounts to at least 15 m/s. The width of the primary blower slit lies in the range of 15-40 mm. The length of the primary blower slit in the direction of the air stream lies roughly in the range of 5-40 cm, preferably 10-30 cm. No mixing occurs hereby occurs between the primary air stream Sp and the second secondary air stream Ss2 on the side of the warm space, whereby condensation (misting and vaporization) and/or sublimation (icing) is prevented.