Double-Skin Window Airflow Unit for Forced Cavity Ventilation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double skin structure window systems face challenges in effectively controlling airflow and maintaining thermal efficiency due to reliance on natural ventilation, which is influenced by wind direction and speed, leading to inefficient heat management and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
An intake-exhaust unit with a fan system and shutter mechanism that allows for controlled airflow between the exterior, interior, and intermediate cavity of a double skin structure window, utilizing solar power to operate and manage air intake and exhaust through multiple ports, ensuring reliable and efficient air circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If natural ventilation system is used for air intake and exhaust in the intermediate cavity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of airflow control deteriorates due to dependence on wind direction and speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the fan to create self-sufficient forced ventilation that does not depend on external wind conditions. The fan actively draws air through the intermediate cavity regardless of wind direction or speed, making the system self-reliant and eliminating dependence on natural ventilation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical natural ventilation system with an active mechanical forced ventilation system using a fan. This substitution ensures reliable airflow control by using mechanical power to drive air circulation instead of relying on unpredictable natural wind forces.
2Ease of operation
If intake-exhaust ports are provided on the exterior glass side for natural ventilation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the wind pressure resistance performance deteriorates when wind speed exceeds 10 meters per second
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the intake-exhaust ports using shutters that can open or close based on operating conditions. The fan provides controlled airflow through these dynamically adjustable ports, allowing the system to maintain ease of operation while managing wind pressure effects by adjusting port openness as needed.
3Loss of energy
If the intermediate cavity takes in outside air through intake-exhaust ports, then the thermal efficiency is improved through heat exchange, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring wind speed effects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces natural wind-driven air exchange with fan-driven forced air exchange. This eliminates the need to measure and account for variable wind speeds, as the fan provides consistent, controllable airflow that maintains thermal efficiency without the measurement complexities of natural ventilation.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If manual or automatic opening and closing of ports is implemented for long-term use, then the duration of action is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to sealing material sticking or operating mechanism troubles
Solution Approach 1:
The fan-driven system creates continuous air flow that prevents sealing material sticking by maintaining constant movement and pressure differential. The self-sufficient forced ventilation eliminates the reliability issues of manual or automatic mechanisms by using the fan's continuous operation to keep the sealing surfaces active and prevent adhesion.
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 enhances thermal efficiency by effectively circulating warmed air within the intermediate cavity, reducing the need for heating and cooling equipment, and simplifies maintenance by automating airflow control, thus improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a fan for sending out the sucked air
Implementation Method 2
a negative-pressure passage provided on the air-intake side of the fan
Implementation Method 3
a positive-pressure passage provided on the air exhausting side of the fan
Implementation Method 4
accumulating the air in the intermediate cavity
Implementation Method 5
heat exchange in the intermediate cavity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an intake-exhaust unit that easily controls the flow of air in an intermediate cavity of a double skin structure window glass, and a double skin system using the same. The intake-exhaust unit is comprised of: a first distribution port of passage of the air; a second distribution port of passage of the air, the second distribution port being separated from the first distribution port; a third distribution port of passage of the air, the third distribution port being separated from the first distribution port and the second distribution port; a fan for sending out the sucked air; a negative-pressure passage provided on the air-sucking side of the fan, the negative-pressure passage having intake holes that communicates with the first, the second, and the third distribution ports; and a positive-pressure passage provided on the air exhausting side of the fan, the positive-pressure passage having an exhaust hole that communicates with the first, the second, and the third distribution ports, wherein the air is sucked from any of the first, the second, and the third distribution ports; and the air is exhausted from any of the distribution port other than the port in use for sucking the air among the first, the second, and the third distribution ports.