Dual-Sided Air Wall with Secondary Slits for Stable Screening

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air wall devices have a limited range and suffer from turbulence and mist/ice formation when air streams are blown from both sides of a passage opening, counteracting the layered air stream effect and requiring additional suction for longer distances.

Innovation Solution

A device with two blowing devices, each with primary and secondary blower slits, and regulating means to control airflow speeds, generating air streams from both sides of a passage opening to create a stable air wall with minimized turbulence, using secondary air streams actively conditioned to match temperature and humidity differences between spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If air streams are blown from both sides of a passage opening, then the screening range is extended, but turbulence and mist/ice formation occur at the center

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreening rangeVSAvoidair stream layering
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different blower slit configurations at different locations. The first blowing device has a first primary blower slit with specific dimensions, while the second blowing device has a second primary blower slit with different dimensions. Additionally, secondary blower slits are added at specific locations to provide localized air streams that prevent turbulence and condensation at the center of the passage opening.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the air wall generation into multiple independent blowing devices. Instead of using a single blowing device, the system divides the task into a first blowing device and a second blowing device, each with their own primary and secondary blower slits. This segmentation allows each device to be optimized for its specific location and prevents the collision of air streams that would occur with a single device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If air streams are blown from both sides, then larger passage openings can be screened, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassage opening areaVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using secondary blower slits that provide supplementary air streams only where needed. The secondary blower slits are not always active at full capacity but provide just enough additional air flow to prevent turbulence and condensation at critical locations, thereby reducing overall energy consumption compared to running primary blowers at high capacity throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Length of stationary object

If air streams are blown from both sides, then the air wall can cover wider passages, but regulating precision must be increased to minimize turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair wall coverageVSAvoidblowing speed regulation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces secondary blower slits as intermediary elements between the primary blowing devices and the passage opening. These secondary slits provide fine-tuned local adjustments to the air streams, acting as mediators that help balance the air flows from opposite sides and reduce the precision requirements for the main primary blower regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Achieves effective screening with reduced energy consumption by using smaller secondary air streams, allowing for efficient separation of spaces with different temperature and humidity conditions without significant turbulence or condensation.

Implementation Method 1

The air wall comprises a primary air stream which forms a rigid wall owing to the specific dimensions of the blower slit and the selected air speed, and a secondary air stream which is either generated by the device or entrained by the primary stream as a result of aerodynamic effects.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAerodynamic effects:

Implementation Method 2

a secondary air stream which is either generated by the device or entrained by the primary stream as a result of aerodynamic effects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEntrainment: Entrainment

Implementation Method 3

the regulating means, which may comprise valves, grids, and the like, must be adjustable in a sufficiently precise manner to allow the fitter or operator to regulate the air flow rates (or speeds) for a certain passage opening in such a way that the respective air walls just touch one another, without however colliding with one another with such an amount of energy that considerable turbulence would be generated.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP2746686B1Device for generating an air wall
Publication Date: 2018.07.18 HANDL WILLY DEWEERDT
  • EP2746686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2746686B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2746686B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for generating an air wall across a passage opening (100), which passage opening (100) has lateral edges and a top edge, comprising: a first and second blowing device (10, 20), arranged at the lateral edges in such a way that planar air streams are blown over the height and respective parts of the width of the passage opening (100); wherein the device (1) is provided with regulating means (13; 23) for regulating the blowing speeds of the blowing devices; and wherein the first blowing device (10) and the second blowing device (20) are provided with secondary blower slits (12; 22) which are parallel to the respective primary blower slits (11; 21), which secondary blower slits (12; 22) are connected to secondary means for drying and/or heating air to be blown.