Downdraft ventilation system with an insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing downdraft fans face challenges in grease separation and cleaning efficiency, leading to suboptimal performance in extracting cooking vapors and noise levels.
Innovation Solution
A downdraft fan design featuring a removable insert with a filter element and a collecting element, where the collecting element serves as a flow guide surface, deflecting cooking vapors and improving flow-mechanical properties, and is designed for easy cleaning and self-centering, with optional features like handles and turbulence-inducing elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a removable insert with filter element and collection element is used, then grease separation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into separate functional components: a filter element for grease separation and a collection element for liquid collection. These elements can be removed independently or together, allowing for simplified manufacturing of each component while achieving high overall grease separation efficiency through their coordinated arrangement in the flow channel.
2Productivity
If the collection element is designed with flow guide surfaces to deflect cooking fumes, then fluid dynamic properties are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collection element incorporates curved flow guide surfaces that deflect cooking fumes by approximately 90 degrees. These curved surfaces improve fluid dynamic properties by guiding flow smoothly, while the collection element's overall simple geometric form (trough-shaped with rounded corners) maintains ease of manufacture through standard forming processes.
3Ease of operation
If the insert components are designed to be removable, then cleaning ease is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is segmented into a filter element and a collection element that can be removed independently from the housing. Each element has simple attachment features (such as engagement protrusions or friction fits) that allow for tool-free installation and removal, simplifying cleaning operations while maintaining straightforward assembly without complex fastening mechanisms.
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 design achieves a high degree of grease separation, reduces noise, and simplifies cleaning, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the downdraft fan system.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the collection element, serving as a flow-guiding surface, leads in particular to a deflection of the cooking fume flow by approximately 90°
Implementation Method 2
The filter element and the collection element are designed to be removable... a particularly high grease separation efficiency, especially as measured according to DIN EN 61591, could be achieved
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an insert (12) for a downdraft ventilator (4), comprising a removable filter element (13) for filtering a cooking fumes flow and a removable trap element (14) for receiving liquids, wherein the trap element (14) has at least one wall (20) which serves as a flow directing surface for diverting the cooking fumes flow.